Writing in The Daily Telegraph newspaper, Chancellor Ms Reeves urged European nations to follow the UK’s lead in raising defence spending, amid uncertainty over the US’s commitment to European security.
European leaders will meet in the UK over the weekend to discuss future defence, Sir Keir revealed, a gathering likely to feature a similar group to those who appeared at a recent summit convened in Paris, including leaders from Germany, Spain, Italy, France, the Netherlands and the EU Commission.
Sir Keir Starmer will fly to the USA on Wednesday ahead of crunch talks with Donald Trump, as the Chancellor urged European allies to follow the UK in raising defence spending.
Sir Keir insisted the increase in defence funding was “very much my decision” when questioned whether the US was now setting UK defence policy.
To fund “the biggest sustained increase in defence spending since the end of the Cold War”, development assistance aid will be slashed from its current level of 0.5% of gross national income to 0.3% in 2027, a move which triggered fierce criticisms from charities.
