politics
Former NATO Chief Says UK Defence Plan Lacks Path to 3.5 Percent Target Despite £15 Billion Modernisation Increase
George Robertson criticised the government on July 7 for failing to outline how Britain will reach the NATO 3.5 percent core defence target. He forecast a cool reception from allies when Prime Minister Keir Starmer attends the Ankara summit this week.
Jul 7, 7:36 AM·1m read1 source
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Former NATO secretary general George Robertson criticised the UK government on July 7 for failing to set out a path to spending 3.5 percent of GDP on core defence. Robertson, who co-authored Britain's Strategic Defence Review last year, told a parliamentary committee that the months-long delay in publishing the Defence Investment Plan had deterred investment and angered allies.
He said the plan itself showed an inability to project forward the commitment to the 3.5 percent target.
NATO allies agreed last year to reach 3.5 percent on broader security by 2035, a goal set in response to U.S. President Donald Trump's calls for higher European spending. Robertson stated that Britain was running out of years to prepare and that the challenge was now bigger, more serious and earlier than anticipated.
Prime Minister Keir Starmer's current plans add an extra £15 billion to modernise the armed forces. Robertson predicted relations would be frosty when Starmer meets Trump and other allies at the Ankara summit on Wednesday. Starmer is expected to hand power to former Greater Manchester mayor Andy Burnham as soon as July 20.
