Sir Keir Starmer will tell NATO allies that the UK has a “cast-iron commitment” to raise UK defense spending to 2.5% of GDP, but refuses to honor this pledge in his first term in office government.
The new Work said the Prime Minister on the way to his first international summit since your landslide electoral victory last week that the UK “must make sure we are ready to defend ourselves” by ordering an immediate “root and branch” review of Britain’s defense capabilities.
Sir Keir will launch the strategic defense review next week, which will put “NATO first” at the heart of Britain’s defense plans.
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But the Labor leader also refused to commit to reaching the 2.5% target in his first term, saying only that he would like to do so “as quickly as possible”, while urging other allies to increase spending to “safeguard the future of the Alliance”. “.
He is expected to use NATO’s 75th anniversary summit in Washington to advocate for all allies to adopt 2.5% as the new target, as opposed to the current target of 2% of GDP.
Asked if he would establish a timetable for achieving the goal, the prime minister said: “The most important thing at this moment, at this NATO summit, is to reaffirm the commitment and be in solidarity with Ukraine and discuss practical plans for further actions.” that we can take together in relation to Russian aggression. This is really important.
“I am committed to guaranteeing that 2.5% within the scope of our budgetary rules. This strategic review has to come first, but today, tomorrow and the next day it is about being together with our allies, discussing in practice how we can provide more support for Ukraine and send a very, very clear message to Putin that we will stand up against Russian aggression wherever it is in the world.”
Sir Keir’s position contrasts with that of his predecessor Rishi Sunak, who made a manifesto promise to reach the 2.5% target by the end of this parliament.
The UK’s strategic review will determine the nation’s future defense posture, required capabilities and establish a roadmap to achieve 2.5% of GDP in defence. He will confirm that the review will put a “NATO first” policy at the heart of Britain’s defense plans.
The government said the review will consider the threats the UK faces, from Russia to the Middle East, and the rise of authoritarian regimes.
One of Starmer’s first international calls as prime minister was to President Zelenskyy, in which the Labor leader reiterated the UK’s unwavering support for Ukraine.
“The prime minister firmly believes that Ukraine’s security is our security,” his official spokesman said.
The Prime Minister before flying to the USA
NATO’s 75th anniversary summit appears as Russia intensifies attacks on Kyiv.
Russian missiles blew up cities across Ukraine on Monday, damaging the country’s largest children’s hospital and other buildings in a ferocious attack that halted heart surgeries and forced young cancer patients to have their treatments outdoors. At least 41 people died in the attacks, officials said.
The summit will also likely be overshadowed by questions about the viability of President Biden’s re-election bidas the US president fights pressure from his own party to withdraw.
The US president is expected to deliver opening remarks on Tuesday and then hold an impromptu press conference on Thursday, which will be closely watched.
Joe Biden speaks to supporters on July 7. Photo: AP/Manuel Balce Ceneta
President Biden this week issued a defiant letter to wavering congressional Democrats, telling them that “any weakening of resolve…only helps Trump and hurts us.”
The president also went on national TV to insist “I’m not going anywhere”.
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