Overview

• Keir Starmer has proposed raising UK defence spending to 2.5% of GDP, funded by cuts to the foreign aid budget, as concerns grow over US commitment to NATO and European security.
• The US, under Donald Trump, has shown signs of retreating from its traditional NATO leadership role, raising fears of European vulnerability to Russia's aggression in Ukraine.
• Critics argue that blindly increasing military budgets without reassessing defence priorities could waste resources on outdated systems, such as aircraft carriers and nuclear weapons, which may have limited utility in modern conflicts.
• There are growing calls to address Europe's dependency on US military technology and infrastructure, with some questioning the UK's ability to operate independently or defend itself if US support diminishes or shifts against European interests.
• The Labour Government's upcoming defence review is expected to be pivotal in determining whether the UK can modernize its defence strategy to address emerging threats, including cyber warfare and hybrid attacks, while reducing reliance on US systems.