UK defence spending will reach 3% of UK GDP by 2034, The Times newspaper reported.
“In the next parliament, the country will spend 3% of its GDP on defence“, declared Defence Secretary John Healy in an interview with the publication. According to the head of the department, “there is no doubt“ that this will be done.
In February, Prime Minister Keir Starmer said that 2.5% of GDP would be spent on defence by 2027, compared to the current 2.3%. The 3% spending share was then mentioned only as a target.
According to Healy's latest statements, this is no longer just an intention, but a guarantee.
A Ministry of Defence source told the newspaper that the developers of the UK's defence strategy report, due to be presented on June 2, are based on the assumption that spending at the 3% level will be achieved by 2034. The document is expected to be around 130 pages.