Keir Starmer is unlikely to present a plan for increasing the UK’s defense spending to 2.5% of GDP this week, according to a cabinet minister.
Education Secretary Bridget Phillipson described the target of 2.5% as “ambitious” despite Labour’s previous pledge to establish a path to meet this spending goal after the strategic defense review in the spring.
Phillipson also mentioned that Prime Minister Starmer will meet with US President Donald Trump at the White House on Thursday, amidst strained relations between the US and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy. Additional tensions were raised when Trump claimed that Starmer and French President Emmanuel Macron “haven’t done anything” to end the war in Ukraine, following his assertion that Zelenskyy is a “dictator.”
Lord Peter Mandelson, the UK’s ambassador to Washington, has reportedly urged Starmer to set a definitive timeline for increasing defense spending from 2.3% of GDP. Phillipson, in turn, blamed the previous Conservative government for leaving public finances in a “devastating state,” which has made it challenging for the current government to provide such timelines.
When questioned regarding whether Starmer would inform Trump that Britain will increase its defense spending significantly amid US demands for Europe to take on more security burdens, Phillipson stated that allies should also increase their spending. However, she emphasized that reaching 2.5% of GDP is ambitious and the government would provide a credible plan with a clear path to achieving it.
Starmer’s meeting with Trump will take place after US President Trump meets with Macron, who will be the first European leader to visit Washington since Trump’s inauguration. Phillipson downplayed the significance of Starmer not being the first European leader to meet Trump, emphasizing that both leaders value the relationship between their countries.
The shadow defense secretary, James Cartlidge, acknowledged that the Conservatives support the prime minister in this meeting, emphasizing the need to stand up to Putin. However, Cartlidge went further, agreeing with Trump’s call for increased defense spending and the need for European countries to step up. He proposed reallocating funds from a reduced civil service to boost defense spending.
Starmer has assured Zelenskyy that he will advocate for Ukraine’s sovereignty during his talks with Trump, stating that he will be “progressing important discussions” about Kyiv’s security while in Washington.
Source: https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2025/feb/23/starmer-unlikely-to-unveil-plan-for-rise-in-defence-spending-this-week-says-minister
