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UK Defence Spending Debate Intensifies Ahead of Starmer-Trump Meeting

Labour faces growing pressure to commit to increased defence spending as political and international calls for clarity escalate.

  • Labour is the only major UK political party yet to commit to raising defence spending to 2.5% of GDP by 2030, a target supported by the Conservatives, Liberal Democrats, and Reform UK.
  • Prime Minister Keir Starmer is set to meet US President Donald Trump next week, with Trump urging European nations, including the UK, to take greater responsibility for their own defence.
  • Labour Chancellor Rachel Reeves signaled that difficult budgetary decisions may be required to prioritize defence spending, reiterating a commitment to reaching 2.5% of GDP but without a clear timeline.
  • Calls for even higher defence spending, up to 3% of GDP, have emerged from within Labour and other political figures, citing increased global security threats and the potential reduction of US military presence in Europe.
  • The Liberal Democrats proposed measures such as raising the digital services tax and creating a European Rearmament Bank to fund defence increases, while emphasizing the need for cross-party consensus.
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