UK boosts military budget to 2.5% GDP, cuts foreign aid
UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer announced on Tuesday an increase in the defence budget to 2.5% of GDP by 2027. In his speech to the House of Commons, he described this as the largest uninterrupted rise in defence spending since the end of the Cold War.
The Prime Minister emphasized that this means an increase in annual defence spending by approximately CAD 22.4 billion, starting from 2027. He announced that in the following years, the defence budget is expected to continue growing to reach 3% of GDP in the next parliamentary term.
UK Prime Minister: More on military, less on foreign aid
He added that increasing military spending will necessitate a reduction in the foreign aid budget, which will decrease from 0.5% to 0.3% of GDP by 2027. He emphasized that ensuring the defense and security of Britons remains a top priority for the government in today's world.
Media outlets emphasize that Starmer’s unexpected announcement came shortly before his planned visit to the White House and a meeting with [Name of the Leader], who is urging NATO allies to spend more on defence.
