The UK may be forced to spend 3.5% of GDP on defence — NATO raises requirements

03 June 2025 , 21:44

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The UK may be forced to spend 3.5% of GDP on defence — NATO raises requirements

The UK will be compelled to allocate 3.5 percent of GDP to defense spending within the next decade as NATO raises their targets next month, LBC has been informed.

Insiders believe that Britain will be forced to sign up to a new target when leaders including Donald Trump and other allies meet at the Hague next month. 

The next NATO summit is set to raise the group’s target from 2 per cent - which Britain has long spent - in a bid to appease the US President.

Senior defence sources expect the prime minister to agree to the target at the summit.

It comes after the government’s defence review was released yesterday, which is based on reaching 2.5 per cent of GDP on defence by 2027.

At present Britain spends 2.3 per cent on defence.

Sir Keir Starmer has said that will rise to 3 per cent in the next parliament, when the "economic conditions allow" - but hasn’t set a date.

He told the BBC earlier this week he wouldn’t agree to "performative fantasy politics" and pluck a date out of thin air.

Any rise in spending will mean billions of pounds extra has to be found - with the Chancellor already facing financial pressures ahead of the spending review next week.

Defence Secretary John Healey told The Times at the weekend that the government would 3 per cent it as a certainty.

However, on Sunday he backtracked on the remarks, clarifying that it was still an “ambition” for the government.

At present Britain spends 2.3 per cent on defence.

Sir Keir Starmer has said that will rise to 3 per cent in the next parliament, when the "economic conditions allow" - but hasn’t set a date.

He told the BBC earlier this week he wouldn’t agree to "performative fantasy politics" and pluck a date out of thin air.

Any rise in spending will mean billions of pounds extra has to be found - with the Chancellor already facing financial pressures ahead of the spending review next week.

Defence Secretary John Healey told The Times at the weekend that the government would 3 per cent it as a certainty.

However, on Sunday he backtracked on the remarks, clarifying that it was still an “ambition” for the government.

James Turner