UK Faces Pressure on Defense Spending with 3% NATO Proposal Amid Trump's Election Win

Nov 10, 2024, 08:51 AM

Former Foreign Office Minister Tobias Ellwood has proposed a blanket increase in defense spending to 3% of GDP for all NATO countries to send a clear signal to Donald Trump that NATO is not leaning on America. This comes amid renewed questions about the UK's defense spending following Trump's election win. Chief Secretary to the Treasury Darren Jones, in an interview with Sky's Trevor Phillips, stated that the UK will not know if it can reach the 2.5% defense spending target until after the spending review in 2025. Jones emphasized that defending the country is non-negotiable but did not commit to meeting the 2.5% target. The UK government faces pressure to clarify its defense spending plans, especially in light of potential reductions in U.S. funding to Ukraine. The interview was broadcast on Sky 501 and YouTube.