United Kingdom undertakes to reach 2.5 percent of the defense spending GDP in two years

The Prime Minister of the United Kingdom, Keir Starmer, announced on Tuesday a commitment to raise the expense in defense to 2.5 percent of GDP in 2027, at the expense of cutting other funds such as foreign aid, which will fall two tenths , up to 0.3 percent, in the same period.

“A generational challenge requires a generational response,” which implies “some difficult and painful decisions,” said Starmer, in a speech convened by surprise before the House of Commons and in which he has advocated to guarantee the security of the kingdom Unido and, at the same time, reinforce the solidity of NATO and continue helping international partners such as Ukraine.

London already had on the table the goal of 2.5 percent in defense, but until Tuesday he had not put a temporary horizon. Starmer has also evidenced the “clear ambition” to reach 3 percent in the following legislature, all of them commitments in which he has appealed to the support of all parties.

This commitment to defense-will imply the disbursement of 13.4 billion pounds per year-will translate first in a fall in foreign aid funds, which will go from representing 0.5 percent of GDP at 0.3. “I want to make the camera clear that it is not an announcement that I am glad to give,” the prime minister has opted in his speech.

In fact, the program with which the Labor Party appeared to the latest elections expressly affects the need to increase the aid to 0.7 percent of GDP, with the added nuance of “as soon as the tax circumstances allow it” , according to BBC Public Radio.

In relation to Ukraine, and on the eve of being in the White House with President Donald Trump, Starmer has insisted on the doctrine of “Peace through force”, in line with the slogans of the Ukrainian president, Volodimir Zelenski. The British ‘premier’ has assured that the United Kingdom can be “proud of the answer” provided to the Russian invasion, of which three years have been completed this February 24.

Trump has also tried to stir from his return to the White House the debate on the investments in defense and, if during his first mandate he insisted that all allies had to exceed the threshold of 2 percent, now the goal he raises is even to arrive to 5 percent of GDP.

Opposition support with nuances

Starmer’s announcement has received in general the support of the opposition, a “unity” that the ‘Premier’ thanked in a living voice. The leader of the Conservative Party, Kemi Badenoch, has even wondered if it will be enough to reach 2.5 percent and have focused her criticisms on the origin of these funds.

The ‘Tory’ leader has urged the Head of Government to clarify whether he foresees a tax increase or an increase in debt level, both aspects that Starmer has denied bluntly. In this sense, the prime minister has adhered to the “very difficult” decision on the decrease in development aid.

Both Badenoch and the leader of the Democratic Liberal Party, Ed Davey, have highlighted the support of Ukraine and the latter has also slipped a criticism of the current administration of the United States, suggesting a possible “betrayal” both to the Ukrainian authorities and the team of European partners.