Trump warns Britain to meet NATO defence spending pledge as UK plans budget boost

The White House said President Donald Trump expects Britain and other NATO allies to honor a pledge to raise defence spending to 5 % of GDP. U.S. officials have expressed doubt that the United Kingdom will meet the target, noting the country has only reached the 2 % baseline and may fall short of the 3.5 % core‑defence goal for 2035.

In the United Kingdom, the outgoing Prime Minister Keir Starmer is set to unveil a delayed defence investment plan (DIP). New defence secretary Dan Jarvis has secured a £14‑15 billion package, including additional funding for drones, autonomous weapons and hybrid warships, but the total remains below the £28 billion previously deemed necessary. Former defence chief Sir Tony Radakin warned that the plan must pass a “Moscow test” to deter Russian threats.

The debate comes ahead of the NATO summit in Ankara, Turkey, where allies will discuss a credible path to the 5 % spending goal. European officials, including NATO’s deputy commander Sir Johnny Stringer, have called for a shift to low‑cost, mass‑produced systems such as drones and for faster procurement to adapt to a changing security environment.

U.S. officials have also signalled possible reductions in American forces in Europe, heightening concerns that insufficient allied spending could lead to a reevaluation of U.S. commitments to NATO.