George Robertson, the former NATO secretary general, criticized UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer's military spending plan, stating it is "too little, too late" during a defence select committee meeting on Tuesday. Robertson's comments come as allies gather for the NATO summit in Ankara, where he expressed concerns over the UK’s defence investment plan (Dip) and its impact on the defence industry.
Concerns Over Defence Investment Plan
Robertson warned that the Dip, which was delayed for nearly a year, fails to address the urgent challenges facing the UK. He noted, "We built this strategic defence review based on an assessment of 10 years. That was our assessment at the time for when a peer opponent might challenge the United Kingdom." He emphasized that the threat has evolved, stating, "The reality is that the challenge is now bigger, more serious, and earlier than we had anticipated."
Robertson expressed disappointment that the Dip does not provide the necessary investment levels needed to maintain confidence among defence companies and international allies. He stated, "Some companies will have gone bust in the process as they waited for the degree of certainty that was required in our view."
Starmer's Visit to NATO Summit
As Starmer heads to Turkey for what may be his final foreign trip as Prime Minister, Robertson indicated that he might encounter a cool reception from allies. He mentioned, "The prime minister is in Ankara today at the NATO summit and he’ll be sitting tomorrow morning beside President Trump in alphabetical order around the North Atlantic Council table, and I think relations may well be quite frosty." This statement reflects a growing concern among NATO allies, many of whom are increasing their defence budgets.
Starmer’s plan, which aims to enhance UK military spending, has been overshadowed by the delays to the Dip and the ongoing debate about funding levels. Despite the government’s claim that Robertson’s defence review was fully funded, military chiefs have requested an additional £28 billion, with the Treasury only agreeing to £15 billion, leaving unresolved issues for the next Prime Minister, likely Andy Burnham.
International Defence Spending Standards
Critics have pointed out that the UK’s plan lacks a clear timeline to reach the NATO spending target of 3.5% of GDP, a commitment that other nations have more explicitly outlined. NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte has called for allies to present "clear, concrete and credible plans" to meet spending targets, emphasizing the urgency of the situation. Rutte stated, "President Trump fully expects that all allies will step up immediately and get on the path to 5% and do it with urgency."
- Key Figures:
- £28 billion requested by military chiefs
- £15 billion agreed by the Treasury
- 3.5% of GDP target for defence spending
- 5% urged by NATO Secretary General
🤖 This article was rewritten by Feed and Figures' editorial AI from a report originally published by Guardian Politics. Facts and quotes are preserved from the original; the rewrite focuses on clarity and structure. For the unedited original, see the source link below.
