WARSAW: Prime Minister Rishi Sunak, during his visit to Poland, said on Tuesday that Britain is set to bolster its defense spending to 2.5 percent of GDP by 2030.
Sunak, alongside NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg in Warsaw, emphasized the need for vigilance in the face of heightened threats, particularly from Russia.
“In a world that is the most dangerous it has been since the end of the Cold War, we cannot be complacent,” Sunak told reporters in Warsaw.
This commitment entails a rise from the current 2.3 percent, positioning the UK among the top spenders in the 32-member NATO alliance, trailing only the United States. The British government estimates this will translate to £87 billion allocated to defense by 2030-31, marking a substantial £23 billion increase.
Sunak stressed the imperative to fortify national defense, labeling it as “the biggest strengthening of national defense for a generation.” The move comes amidst mounting pressure on Western nations following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine and escalating tensions in the Middle East.
EU Commission President Ursula von der Leyen has echoed the urgency for a “European awakening on defense and security.” Brussels aims to present further financing proposals for this defense initiative at an upcoming summit of EU leaders in June.
In response to calls, including from within his Conservative Party, to elevate defense spending to three percent of GDP, Sunak has announced an additional £500 million in funding for Ukraine’s war efforts against Russia.
