LONDON聽鈥 The British government is considering bringing forward the target date for spending 3% of economic output on defense, a year after it last increased its planned budget for the military, the BBC reported on Monday.
Britain, which has warned of the risks posed by Russia, said in February 2025 that it would increase annual defense spending to 2.5% of GDP by 2027 and target 3% in the next parliament, which is expected to begin after an election due in 2029.
The BBC said Prime Minister Keir Starmer鈥檚 aides were now looking at proposals to meet the 3% ambition by 2029. It said no decision had been taken but the government recognized current plans would not cover rising defense costs.
Mr. Starmer told the Munich Security Conference on Saturday that Europe had come together to support Ukraine with the supply of weapons and munitions, adding: 鈥渋t is clear that we are going to have to spend more faster鈥.
The latest NATO estimates show that Britain spent 2.3% of GDP on defense in 2024, above the 2% NATO guideline. But in line with other European countries it has come under pressure from the United States to spend more to protect the continent.
Struggling with high debt and spending commitments, the government last year cut its international aid budget in order to fund the hike in defense spending to 2.5% of GDP but is yet to publish an investment plan with spending priorities, something that has frustrated the defense industry.
Britain鈥檚 budget watchdog, the Office for Budget Responsibility, said last year that increasing spending to 3% of GDP would cost an additional 17.3 billion pounds a year ($24 billion) in 2029-30.
Finance minister Rachel Reeves has struggled to remain on course to meet her targets for repairing the public finances. The BBC said the finance ministry was believed to be cautious about the new defense spending proposals. A government spokesperson declined to comment on any revised plans.
鈥淭he government is focused on delivering for defense,鈥 the spokesperson said. 鈥淲e are delivering the largest sustained increase in defense spending since the Cold War, with an extra 5 billion pounds for defense this financial year alone.鈥 鈥 Reuters
