Politics

Trump Tells Starmer to Boost the UK Military Budget Faster

Published on May 21, 2025

Donald Trump has reportedly set a clear expectation for UK Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer to increase Britain’s defence spending to 3% of GDP by 2029, the projected end of the current Parliament. According to The Times, Pentagon officials have conveyed to their British counterparts that Trump would prefer this target to be met even sooner.

The request follows recent remarks from Trump’s Defence Secretary, Pete Hegseth, who welcomed Sir Keir’s pledge to raise UK military expenditure from 2.3% to 2.5% of GDP by 2027. Despite that commitment, senior US officials have made it clear that Washington still sees the current spending level as an “irritant.”

One American official was quoted saying the US has “sought the potential” for the UK to reach the 3% threshold during the current Parliament, and not wait until its final year. Based on figures from the Office for Budget Responsibility, such a commitment would require an increase of £17.3 billion in defence spending by 2029-30.

A Whitehall source also indicated that US representatives have asked whether the UK might be willing to go beyond 3% in the longer term.

In an effort to meet these rising expectations, European NATO allies are reportedly considering a broader definition of defence spending. This could include civilian infrastructure projects such as roads and bridges that support military logistics, potentially easing the path to reaching higher targets.

One European diplomat suggested a 3.5% goal is within reach, but warned that any rapid increase would be constrained by the existing capacity of the UK’s defence infrastructure and industry. “Spending could not increase faster because the infrastructure and industry are not yet in place to facilitate this,” the diplomat said.

Earlier this month, Sir Keir Starmer made a strong case for increased military investment, highlighting its importance for both global and domestic security.

“This isn’t just a fight for freedom and democracy in Ukraine,” he said. “No, it’s a new, more dangerous era of history, a period of global instability that fuels insecurity for working people here at home.”

He warned of the real-world consequences of Vladimir Putin’s aggression: “The British people have already paid a price… with rising bills and prices,” citing cyberattacks on the NHS, online disinformation, and the 2018 Salisbury chemical attack.

“The battle lines in Ukraine are the front line for Western values,” Starmer added. “National security is economic security and that’s why we’re boosting defence spending with the largest sustained increase since the Cold War.”

(Image: Carl Court/PA)