UK will commit to spending 5% of GDP on defence by 2035 | Defence policy
By: Aletha Adu Political correspondent | Published: 2025-06-23 21:30:00 | Source: www.theguardian.com
Britain will commit to spending 5% of its GDP on defence by 2035 after weeks of diplomatic pressure and intense negotiations with allies.
The decision came as Keir Starmer, the prime minister, prepared to join Nato leaders at a summit dominated by global conflict and expectations of European military self-reliance.
The UK’s pledge aligns with Nato’s new spending targets – but at a slower pace than key allies including Poland. Britain pushed for and secured a later date.
Military chiefs are expected to welcome the announcement but officials acknowledged the 5% increase would combine traditional defence spending of 3.5% with a broader “whole of society” category worth 1.5% of GDP.
Some defence officials have privately said the headline figure risks conflating military capability…
