Starmer Plans to Raise UK’s Military Spending to 2.5 percent of GDP by 2027

The British prime minister announced he will pursue spending cuts on international development projects to help pay for military spending increases.

British Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer speaks during a press conference at the Downing Street Briefing Room, in London, on Jan. 21, 2025. Henry Nicholls/WPA Pool/Getty Images

The UK will commit 2.5 percent of its gross domestic product to defense spending by 2027 and will target 3 percent GDP spending for defense within the decade, British Prime Minister Keir Starmer announced on Feb. 25.

Addressing the British Parliament on Tuesday, Starmer detailed his plans to pursue “the biggest sustained increase in defense spending since the end of the Cold War.”