UK PM Pledges Defense Boost to 2.5% GDP by 2027

British Prime Minister Keir Starmer dropped a major policy bombshell Tuesday, pledging to ramp up UK defense spending to 2.5% of GDP by 2027 . The announcement comes just days before high-stakes talks with U.S. President Donald Trump in Washington.

Here’s the breakdown:

• Funding shift: Overseas development aid will be cut from 0.5% to 0.3% of GDP
• Current defense spending: 2.3% of GDP in 2023/24
• Timeline: Full target hit within next three years

Calling it \"a vital investment in global stability,\" Starmer emphasized the need for \"strong alliances in uncertain times\" . Analysts speculate the move aims to align with U.S. priorities ahead of this week’s crucial transatlantic meetings.

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UK PM pledges to spend 2.5% of GDP on defense by 2027

cgtn.com