UK Defense Secretary supports Trump's calls for higher defense spending

British Defense Secretary Wes Streeting has stated that U.S. President Donald Trump is ‘absolutely right’ in demanding increased defense spending from the United Kingdom and its European allies.

Speaking following a defense ministers' summit in Keflavik, Iceland, Streeting emphasized that the UK must be prepared for potential military action by 2030. This follows NATO warnings that Russia could potentially attack an alliance member within that timeframe. Streeting noted that while the UK’s policy is ‘NATO first’, London must take more initiative and responsibility for the defense of the European continent.

These comments come ahead of Prime Minister Andy Burnham’s first budget. The Labour government faces internal divisions regarding whether to reduce social welfare spending to fund increased military capabilities. While Chancellor John Hill has declined to commit to a specific path toward reaching the 3% GDP defense spending target by 2030—deferring the decision to a 2027 spending review—Streeting maintained that the government is ‘on the right track’ to meet that threshold.