Warning against a “new era of insecurity”, the British Prime Minister announced on Tuesday an increase in defense expenses of the United Kingdom by 2027, a few days before his meeting with US President Donald Trump at the White House .
British Prime Minister Keir Starmer has announced a historic increase in defense spending in the United Kingdom, bringing them to 2.5 % of GDP by 2027 against 2.3 % currently.
This measure, presented as “The greatest sustained increase in defense expenses since the end of the Cold War”aims to strengthen the security of Europe in the face of a “New era of insecurity”.
Speaking before the legislators, Keir Starmer justified this increase by the need to dissuade from “Tyrans like Vladimir Putin”,, which only respond to force “.
The Prime Minister said that this increase represented an additional 13.4 billion pounds per year and that the long -term objective was to reach 3 % of GDP by 2035. To finance this increase, development aid Abroad will be reduced from 0.5 % to 0.3 % of national income.
“A new era that we have to face” according to Keir Starmer
This announcement comes as Europe seeks to strengthen its collective defense in the face of growing uncertainty surrounding the United States foreign policy. The British Prime Minister must meet the American president at the White House Thursday, after the latter complained that the United States ensures the security of European countries.
Keir Starmer proposed to send British troops to Ukraine to guarantee a cease-fire with Russia, while emphasizing the need for an American “backstop” to ensure lasting peace. However, Washington did not undertake to provide security guarantees to kyiv, while Ukraine begins its fourth year of resistance to the Russian invasion.
“We must support Ukraine, because without lasting peace, economic instability and threats to our security will only grow”said Keir Starmer, stressing that the conflict had evolved in recent weeks, requiring a more suitable response.
“Thus, when the nature of this conflict has changed, as has been the case in recent weeks, our answer becomes more precise, a new era that we must face as we have so often done in the past, together and forcefully “”added Mr. Starmer.
“A nightmare” for Boris Johnson
Meanwhile, former Prime Minister Boris Johnson strongly criticized the United States position on the conflict in Ukraine. During a visit to kyiv, he compared Washington’s statements to a “nightmare”believing that the American arguments were a “Orwellian language”.
“To say that Ukraine has sparked war is like saying that America caused Pearl Harbor’s attack. It’s absurd, and we have to denounce it”he said.
Boris Johnson called on European governments to display a stronger unit in the face of Russia, warning that without real support for Ukraine, the American administration would not take Europe seriously.
While geopolitical tensions continue to rise, the British defense strategy seems to mark a decisive turning point, inscribing the country in a dynamic of reset in the face of growing international challenges.
