Amid Trump's criticism of Nato, Starmer under pressure to outline UK defence spending plan

Ahead of US President-elect Donald Trump’s inauguration, British Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer has come under pressure to outline the defence spending plan.

Trump has long been critic of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (Nato) and has blasted fellow members of the military alliance of not spending enough and relying on the United States for their security needs. Ahead of Trump’s inauguration, MPs are pressing Starmer for outlining the plan to raise British defence spending to 2.5 per cent of the gross domestic product (GDP).

Even though Starmer has committed to outlining such a plan, the failure of giving a timeline and reports of delay in furnishing such a plan have angered MPs.

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Tan Dhesi from Starmer’s Labour Party, who heads the Defence Select Committee, has said there was “no reason” why the government could not be more open about the plan to reach the target. Former Defence Minister Tobias Ellwood of the Conservative Party also made a similar call.

‘Govt should provide a clear timetable’

In an apparent reference to the ongoing Russian war on Ukraine and the conflicts in West Asia, Dhesi said that the government should provide a “clear timetable”. He said that such a clarity would be helpful to the nation, Nato, and the defence industry in a world that’s becoming “increasingly dangerous”.

“In an increasingly dangerous world, with conflicts raging, including on our European Continent, the Government should provide a clear timetable for when it intends to meet its commitment to spend 2.5 per cent of GDP on defence. This clarity would help our Nato allies overseas, as well as the defence community and our UK industrial base," said Dhesi, as per i newspaper.

Trump has been highly critical of fellow Nato members. On the campaign trail, he said that he would tell Russia “to do whatever the hell they want” with Nato members who would not spend on defence to his liking. Such a take on allies has led to anxieties whether Trump would continue to be a proactive member of the bloc.

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Dhesi further said, “The Defence Secretary told me last month when I questioned him in both the Chamber and in the Defence Committee, that while we wait for the Strategic Defence Review, urgent decisions are still being taken. However, there is no reason why the Government cannot be more forthcoming on the timeline for its target.”

Ellwood said that as the second-largest military within Nato, the UK should “lead by example” and outlining the defence spending plan at the earliest is therefore a must.

“The first demand Trump is likely to make of Europe is ‘increase your defence budgets or I will cut US support’. As the next largest, most professional military force in Nato we should be leading by example. What the MoD requires is clarity to plan. Announcing a timetable to increase defence spending over the next year would satisfy the Treasury, give the MoD space to plan and set a responsible example with our Nato allies,” said Ellwood, according to the newspaper.

Shadow Defence Secretary James Cartlidge said that with each passing day that such a plan is not outlined, the Labour government “undermines the ability of our armed forces to rearm at the pace and scale they need to meet today’s threats”, as per the newspaper.

Govt pushing for 2.5% target by 2034: Reports

There is reportedly a gap of seven years between defence chiefs’ and Starmers’ government’s outline for the 2.5 per cent target.

The i newspaper has previously reported that the government is pushing for the 2.5 target to be met by 2034. Separately, Politico has reported that British defence chiefs have called for such a target to be reached by 2027.

Previously, Conservative PM Rishi Sunak had pledged to reach the 2.5 per cent target by 2030.