Starmer faces likely row at Nato summit after US rebuke on defence spending
Summary
UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer is attending a NATO summit amid pressure from the US to increase the UK’s defense spending to meet alliance targets. The US ambassador criticized some NATO members, including the UK, for not spending enough on defense, while UK officials plan to work on raising defense budgets in the coming years.Key Facts
- Keir Starmer will attend the NATO summit in Ankara, Turkey.
- NATO members agreed last year to spend at least 3.5% of GDP on defense by 2035.
- The UK plans to raise defense spending from 2.6% of GDP in 2027 to 2.7% by 2030, aiming for 3% in the next parliament.
- The US ambassador to NATO said President Trump wants all members to increase defense spending to 5% of GDP as soon as possible.
- The UK’s defense secretary, Dan Jarvis, supports increasing spending to show progress toward NATO goals.
- There is uncertainty about the UK’s future defense plans if Andy Burnham becomes prime minister.
- Recently, UK jets intercepted a Russian plane that flew near the HMS Prince of Wales in the Norwegian Sea.
- The Russian aircraft dropped sonar devices near the UK aircraft carrier, which the UK described as unsafe behavior.
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