UK defence budget increased to 2.5% by 2027 as geopolitical landscape darkens
HMS Glasgow, a Type 26 frigate built as part of a large defence investment. (Photo: MoD/Crown copyright)
UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer raises defence spending, while both NATO and President Trump demand significant further increases.
UK defence spending will be increased to 2.5% of the country’s GDP in 2027, Prime Minister Keir Starmer has announced.
The level of defence spending will then, if Starmer has his way, be increased to 3% “within the next parliament”. That means after the next general election, which could be anything up to 4.5 years away.
Assuming no change to the party in government, that would commit the UK to spending 3% of its GDP to defence spending within the space of a decade.
Current NATO defence spending expectations are that Member States commit 2% of their GDP to defence,
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