UK Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer Commits to 5% National Security Spending by 2035
In a significant announcement at the 2025 NATO summit in the Netherlands, UK Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer pledged to meet a new NATO directive that mandates member nations allocate 5% of their GDP towards national security by the year 2035. This strategic goal is set to be ratified by the 32 member countries involved.
The proposed allocation breaks down to 3.5% dedicated to core defense initiatives, while the remaining 1.5% will focus on defense-related sectors such as resilience and security enhancements. This approach aims to balance the requests from U.S. President Donald Trump for increased defense spending, while also offering financially struggling European countries more flexibility in achieving these targets.
Downing Street has indicated that expenditures aimed at bolstering energy infrastructure and combating smuggling operations can be classified under the umbrella of security spending.
Ahead of the two-day summit, Sir Keir articulated the UK’s need to "navigate this era of radical uncertainty with agility, speed, and a clear-eyed sense of national interest." He highlighted that "economic security is national security" and emphasized that this strategy would benefit the populace by fostering job creation and economic growth.
NATO, the North Atlantic Treaty Organization, comprises 32 nations committed to mutual defense agreements. Following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in 2022 and Trump’s recent re-election, NATO allies are under increasing pressure to elevate their defense budgets. Historically, a target of at least 2% of GDP was set for defense spending; however, only 23 nations met this benchmark last year—an increase from just three in 2014.
Trump had previously declared that 2% was "not enough," advocating for a 5% commitment and warned last year that he would "encourage" aggressors toward European allies that fail to meet their financial obligations.
Earlier this year, Sir Keir outlined plans to elevate the UK’s defense spending to 2.5% by April 2027, with an ambition to reach 3% by 2034, contingent upon favorable economic conditions. Recent government statements suggest a projected achievement of 4.1% of GDP spent on national security by 2027.
The 1.5% component of the 5% NATO target is allocated for enhancements in resilience, including border control and cybersecurity defenses, which the UK aims to fulfill by 2026, alongside reaching 2.6% in core defense spending. However, attaining the 3.5% core defense goal will not happen until 2035, two general elections away, with no clear funding sources disclosed by Downing Street.
The launch of the National Security Strategy coincided with this spending commitment to assert the UK’s need for increased competitiveness in fields such as science, education, trade, and emerging technologies. The government stressed that bolstering defense will translate to tangible benefits for working-class citizens through newfound job opportunities.
This summit marks Mark Rutte’s inaugural appearance as NATO Secretary General. He termed the 5% spending target a "quantum leap" that is essential for securing a prosperous future. However, uncertainty remains regarding the ability of nations to meet this ambitious goal, with conflicting reports about potential opt-outs from commitments, such as Spain’s assertion that it had secured one, later denied by Rutte.
Although Ukraine is not a NATO member, President Volodymyr Zelensky has been invited to the summit dinner but will not take part in the North Atlantic Council discussions. Recent commentary indicates that contentious topics, including new strategies regarding Russia, have been omitted from the summit agenda.