British Prime Minister Keir Starmer heads to this week’s NATO summit in Ankara, Turkey under mounting pressure, with senior US officials signaling dissatisfaction with the UK’s defense spending plans and warning that alliance members lagging behind must accelerate their commitments.The summit, scheduled for July 7-8 in Ankara, Türkiye, is expected to be one of Starmer’s last major international engagements as Prime Minister.It comes just days after the UK government unveiled its Defense Investment Plan (DIP) on July 3, pledging an extra £15bn for defense while drawing criticism from some NATO allies over the pace of spending increases.Speaking ahead of the summit, Matt Whitaker, the US ambassador to NATO, said some NATO members were not moving quickly enough to boost defense spending.“Some allies are doing more than others. Poland, the Nordic countries and the Baltic states are leading the way. But many other countries are lagging behind,” The Independent newspaper quoted Whittaker as saying.He also added that US President Donald Trump expects all NATO members to move towards the 5 percent spending target “as soon as possible.”Although Whitaker did not name specific countries, it is understood that British officials believe that Washington views the UK as among the countries that have failed to increase spending quickly enough.
Britain’s spending plan faces scrutiny
Under the Defense Investment Plan, UK defense spending is expected to rise gradually from around 2.6% of GDP in 2027 to 2.7% by 2030, and the government aims to reach 3% during the next parliamentary session.However, NATO members agreed at last year’s summit that allies should work to spend at least 3.5% of GDP on basic defense by 2035, alongside broader security-related investments, bringing total spending to 5%.Critics say Britain’s current roadmap lacks the urgency to meet those ambitions.
Questions about the political transition
The summit also comes amid uncertainty over political leadership in Britain, with speculation that Andy Burnham could replace Starmer as Prime Minister soon.New Defense Secretary Dan Jarvis has called on the next government to provide a clearer funding pathway to meet NATO’s long-term spending target, saying future spending reviews must show a credible path towards 3.5 per cent of GDP.Jarvis also said he had already been in contact with Burnham’s team to discuss defense priorities and expressed confidence that adequate resources would be made available if Burnham took office.
Trump expected to raise the issue directly
According to British media reports, Whitehall officials expect Trump to personally press Starmer on defense spending during the summit.A senior US official was quoted as saying that the US President has already made clear where he believes allies are performing poorly and will deliver that message directly, with any consequences to be communicated at that time.Trump has repeatedly claimed that the United States bears a disproportionate share of NATO’s defense burden. Last week, he renewed his criticism of European allies, claiming that Washington spends much more on the alliance than other members while receiving limited benefits in return.Diplomatic tensions coincide with increasing military activity in northern Europe.British Lockheed Martin F-35 Lightning II fighter jets recently intercepted a Russian maritime patrol plane after it repeatedly approached the HMS Prince of Wales in the Norwegian Sea, the Ministry of Defense said.According to the ministry, the Russian planes flew at low altitude and deployed sonar devices near the carrier before being escorted by British planes.
