NATO urges UK to increase defence spending amid Trump demands

The UK is expected to commit to raising its defence spending to 3.5 per cent of GDP by 2035 at this month’s NATO summit, following a campaign by NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte aimed at securing US President Donald Trump’s support, defence sources have revealed.

One senior insider said Britain would “without a doubt” agree to Rutte’s proposal, which would represent a real-terms increase of around £30 billion beyond the current Labour government’s plans. The insider expressed surprise that Labour leader Keir Starmer “tied himself up” during the launch of the strategic defence review by refusing to set a firm date for reaching the existing 3 per cent spending target, Caliber.Az reports per foreign media.

Currently, the UK government has pledged to increase defence spending from 2.33 per cent of GDP to 2.5 per cent by 2027 and 3 per cent in the subsequent parliament, a framework reflected in 140-page strategic defence review. However, Starmer dismissed setting arbitrary dates, calling it “performative fantasy politics” despite NATO’s push for an even higher figure.

Downing Street did not comment on June 3 but highlighted Starmer’s later remarks at a BAE shipyard visit in Glasgow, where the prime minister said, “There are discussions about what the contribution should be going into the NATO conference in two or three weeks’ time,” emphasizing the broader conversation on NATO’s future effectiveness.

Rutte’s proposal calls for allies to commit 3.5 per cent of GDP to hard defence spending, alongside 1.5 per cent for cyber, intelligence, and military infrastructure. Last week, Rutte stated, “I assume that in The Hague we will agree on a high defence spend target of in total 5 per cent,” adding that hard spending would be “considerably north” of 3 per cent.

Starmer is expected to discuss this target in a June 3 meeting, with sources doubting the UK can refuse after declaring a “NATO-first” defence strategy. However, the 3.5 per cent target’s scope remains uncertain, as some NATO-qualifying spending elements may be excluded.

Funding such an increase would require cuts to other government budgets or tax rises. Starmer has not ruled out further foreign aid cuts, though these would cover only a fraction of the needed funds.

Defence sources praised Rutte for his diplomatic skill and his personal rapport with Trump, developed through meetings since last November. UK Defence Secretary John Healey noted, “Summit discussions are for the summit,” stressing the UK’s commitment to NATO and indicating that spending is only one aspect of the talks.

By Vafa Guliyeva