British Prime Minister Keir Starmer reaffirmed on Wednesday that his Labour government intends to increase defence spending to 2.5% of the country's gross domestic product (GDP).

The announcement comes in response to NATO's call for member nations to bolster defence budgets to address evolving threats from Russia.

Speaking in an interview with LBC Radio, Starmer was asked whether the UK might go further and commit to spending 3% of GDP on defence. However, he reiterated his government's position, emphasizing a planned route to achieving the 2.5% target.

"The commitment we've made is to set out a path to 2.5%," Starmer said, adding that his government plans to outline this trajectory next year.

This announcement follows remarks by NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg, who recently urged the alliance to adopt a "wartime mindset" in light of escalating threats from Russia. Stoltenberg warned that NATO was unprepared for the challenges ahead and called for defence spending to significantly exceed the alliance's current 2% benchmark.

While the NATO target requires member states to dedicate at least 2% of their GDP to defence, the alliance estimates that only 23 of its 32 members will meet this goal in 2024. Meanwhile, U.S. President-elect Donald Trump has advocated for NATO members to increase their defence spending to 3% of GDP.

Starmer’s reaffirmation of the 2.5% target signals the UK’s intention to bolster its military capabilities, aligning with NATO’s broader push for enhanced readiness amid rising geopolitical tensions. Photo: Andrew Linnett/MOD, Wikimedia commons.