Sir Keir is said to want to seize the initiative on defence spending following the news that US President Donald Trump has begun discussing a Ukraine peace deal with Russia.
Rachel Ellehuus, the head of defence thinktank the Royal United Services Institute, told Sky News that with Washington shifting its focus away from Europe, all NATO members should increase defence spending and the alliance's 2% target is not enough.
The Sunday Times reported that Sir Keir Starmer held one-to-one meetings on Friday with the chief of the defence staff Admiral Sir Tony Radakin and the heads of the armed services, who are calling for spending to increase to a 2.65% share of the economy.
Asked if that could mean an increase in defence spending, he said: "We already had an increase... £3bn in the last budget... so our credentials are there.
The whole government recognises the need to spend more on defence, including Chancellor Rachel Reeves, a cabinet minister has said.
