Starmer promised Rutte to unveil defense investment plan by July NATO summit - Reuters
Kyiv • UNN
British Prime Minister Keir Starmer will present a defense investment plan by the NATO summit in Ankara. The conversation with NATO Secretary General Rutte took place amid intensifying political pressure
British Prime Minister Keir Starmer informed NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte on Saturday that he will publish the government's defense investment plan ahead of the alliance summit in Ankara next month. This was reported by Reuters, citing a Downing Street spokesperson, according to UNN.
Details
It is noted that during a phone call, Starmer and Rutte agreed that allies must strengthen collective defense and respond more quickly to shared and evolving threats.
The publication indicates that this conversation took place amid mounting political pressure on Starmer after John Healey resigned as Defense Secretary on Thursday, accusing Starmer of failing to allocate the resources necessary to protect Britain from growing threats.
The Prime Minister provided an update on the plans for the defense investment roadmap, emphasizing his commitment to publishing it before the NATO summit in Ankara. The NATO Secretary General welcomed the increase in UK defense investment as a vital contribution to the alliance and to countering the threats we face,
Reference
The NATO summit in Ankara is scheduled for July 7-8. The British defense investment plan was originally supposed to be presented last year.
Starmer reaffirmed his goal to increase defense spending to 3% of GDP and stated that national security remains the government's top priority, even as it makes difficult budgetary decisions.
As a reminder
Turkey will deploy approximately 70,000 security personnel to protect participants and ensure the security of the NATO summit, which will be held in Ankara on July 7-8.