Prime Minister Keir Starmer has announced plans to cut the UK’s foreign aid budget in order to increase defence spending to 2.5% of GDP. The decision comes ahead of his high-stakes meeting with U.S. President Donald Trump.
Starmer’s proposed boost will inject an additional £13.4 billion annually into the defence sector starting in 2027. This increase aligns with NATO’s expectations, but it has already sparked criticism from opposition parties and aid organizations.
The Prime Minister confirmed that the increased military spending would be funded by slashing the overseas aid budget from 0.5% to 0.3% of national income. While acknowledging the difficult decision, Starmer stated he was not “happy” with the reduction but insisted it was necessary to achieve his government’s security goals. He also revealed a long-term ambition to raise defence expenditure to 3% of GDP by 2034.
Addressing Parliament, Starmer emphasized the importance of military strength in deterring adversaries like Russian President Vladimir Putin. “Tyrants like Putin only respond to strength,” he declared.
“We should not pretend that any of this has been easy. Working people have already felt the cost of Russian actions through rising prices and bills. Nonetheless, one of the great lessons of our history is that instability in Europe will always wash up on our shores, and that tyrants like Putin only respond to strength.
“Russia is a menace in our waters, in our airspace, and on our streets … We must stand by Ukraine, because if we do not achieve a lasting peace, then the economic instability and threats to our security will only grow.”
Keir Starmer
The Labour leader’s announcement has ignited strong reactions from political figures and humanitarian groups. Former Conservative defence secretary Ben Wallace condemned the plan, calling it a “staggering desertion of leadership” and accusing Starmer of making a “weak commitment to our security.” He criticized the additional 0.2% GDP spending on defence by 2027 as inadequate, stating that it was “tone deaf to the dangers of the world and the demands of the United States.”
Foreign aid organizations have also voiced their outrage. WaterAid labeled the cuts a “cruel betrayal” of people in poverty, while ActionAid UK co-CEO Hannah Bond described the move as “profoundly shocking and disappointing.” She warned of “devastating consequences” for vulnerable communities and urged the government to reconsider.
Former deputy foreign secretary Andrew Mitchell echoed these concerns, accusing Starmer of “balancing the books on the backs of the poorest people in the world.”
The controversy surrounding the move has also reignited broader debates on UK military strategy. Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch dismissed Starmer’s proposed 2.5% defence spending as “now no longer sufficient.” She stressed the need for a fundamental overhaul of military procurement, arguing that it must become “faster, more responsive, and deliver better value for taxpayers.”
“Rebuilding will be achieved by having a plan to rearm based on an efficient, focused military, equipped with, and trained to use, the new kinds of weapons we have seen deployed to devastating effects in Ukraine. The message should be simple: we must do what it takes to protect Britain.”
Kemi Badenoch
Trump Meeting Looms Over Starmer’s Decision
With his Washington visit imminent, speculation is mounting that Starmer’s announcement is a strategic move to strengthen relations with President Trump.
When asked whether the defence spending hike was directly influenced by his upcoming discussions with the U.S. leader, Starmer’s spokesperson pointed to recent high-level conversations with NATO allies.
“The Prime Minister reflected on his recent discussions with allies across NATO and Europe, including several conversations he’s had with President Zelensky, President Macron, and the Secretary General of NATO. Discussions on Ukraine have been moving at pace over recent days and weeks.”
As Starmer prepares for crucial talks in Washington, the domestic debate over defence spending and foreign aid cuts is set to intensify. Whether the move will strengthen the UK’s security or spark further controversy remains to be seen.
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