The UK is set to spend 2.5% of its gross national income on defense starting in 2027

Increasing military spending will strengthen the economy and make British citizens wealthier, Prime Minister Keir Starmer has claimed. The UK government has committed to raising defense expenditures within several years, citing both security and economic benefits.

Under the new strategy, the British defense budget will see a gradual increase over the next three years, from the current 2.3% to 2.5% of the country's gross national income (GNI) by April 2027.

"Increasing defense spending will bolster our national security and help to put more money in people's pockets," Starmer said on Monday in a post on X.

The prime minister also highlighted that the policy would create "more opportunities for good, skilled jobs" by enabling smaller businesses to benefit from increased defense investment.

Last month, Starmer said that London was planning to cut its foreign development assistance funding from 0.5% of the GNI down to 0.3% to boost spending on defense. The increase is scheduled for April 2027, three years earlier than previously planned. The prime minister also vowed to raise the spending to 3% in the next parliament, citing "global instability."

The commitment to increased military spending comes amid a growing rift between the US and Western Europe over the future of the Ukraine conflict.

Starmer expressed his "unwavering support" for Kiev after speaking with both US President Donald Trump and Ukraine's Vladimir Zelensky following a heated argument between them at the White House last week. The American and Ukrainian leaders do not see eye to eye on negotiations with Russia and the terms of a possible ceasefire.

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At the same time, the British PM admitted that London "will never choose between either side of the Atlantic," stressing that the UK's relationship with the US "will always be indispensable."

The dispute between the leaders of the US and Ukraine unfolded on Friday when Trump and Vice President J.D. Vance berated Zelensky in front of reporters in the Oval Office. Tensions flared after the Ukrainian challenged Vance's suggestion that direct negotiations with Russia would be the best way to achieve a lasting peace.

Earlier this week, media reports emerged claiming that Trump had instructed the Defense Department to pause all military aid to Ukraine. The freeze reportedly affects equipment already designated for delivery, including weapons in transit on aircraft and ships, as well as shipments waiting in transit areas in Poland.

Britain, along with several EU members, has opted to continue supplying Kiev with military assistance. Earlier this week, Starmer confirmed that London was ready to deploy troops to Ukraine as part of a previously announced "coalition of the willing," aiming to secure peace.

Last month, Politico reported, citing diplomats, that EU nations were preparing a military aid package worth at least 6 billion ($6.3 billion). The move is seen as part of the bloc's broader effort to strengthen Kiev's strategic position ahead of potential negotiations with Moscow.

Russia has condemned the Western arms shipments to Ukraine, warning that they only prolong the conflict without changing the outcome.