In a significant move bolstering national security, UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer has announced a substantial increase in defence spending. The commitment pledges to raise defence expenditure to a robust 5 percent of the nation’s gross domestic product (GDP) by 2035, aligning with a key NATO target.

This ambitious plan was unveiled ahead of a crucial two-day NATO summit in The Hague, where leaders from all 32 member countries gathered to address critical security concerns. The summit is expected to formally endorse the 5% GDP defence spending target for all member nations.

In a statement released on Monday, Prime Minister Starmer emphasized that this substantial investment is crucial for ensuring the UK’s safety and security in an increasingly unpredictable global landscape, characterized by what he described as “radical uncertainty”.

Further solidifying this commitment, the UK government’s newly launched National Security Strategy, published on Tuesday, explicitly reaffirms the 5% spending pledge. Significantly, the strategy issues a stark warning, stating that for the first time in many years, Britain must actively prepare for the potential reality of a “wartime scenario”. This unprecedented acknowledgement underscores the gravity of the situation and the rationale behind the significant increase in defence spending.