Sir Keir Starmer's promise to increase defence spending will have several consequences. It may one day actually strengthen the UK's ability to defend itself. More immediately it will mean billions less spent on foreign aid.

Britain will accelerate an increase to its defense spending, Prime Minister Keir Starmer announced Tuesday, on the eve of a crucial visit to meet US President Donald Trump in Washington.

Prime Minister Keir Starmer says the U.K. will raise defense spending to 2.5% of gross domestic product by 2027. Starmer made the committment on Tuesday.

Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer has set out plans to increase defence spending to 2.5% of national income by 2027, as peace talks to end the war in Ukraine gather pace. The PM said he would cut the UK's international aid budget to fund the rise in defence spending, which is currently 2.3% of GDP.

Britain's Keir Starmer will set out a timeline to increase defence spending to 2.5% of GDP, The Sun newspaper reported on Tuesday, a day before the prime minister travels to meet U.S. President Donald Trump.

Starmer hikes defence spending to 2.5% ahead of crunch meeting with Trump. Credit: Reuters

Sir Keir Starmer has announced the UK will aim to spend 2.5 per cent of GDP on defence every year from 2027 and 3 per cent in the next parliament. In a House of Commons statement this afternoon, the Prime Minister said the figure would mean a £13.

British Prime Minister Keir Starmer is set to cut the country's aid budget to immediately hike defence spending to 2.5% of GDP, a reporter for the Sun newspaper said on X on Tuesday. Starmer is due to make a statement in parliament about defence and security at 1230 GMT on Tuesday,

Starmer HIKES defence spending in major statement House of Commons: PM is expected to make a statement on defence amid talks of ceasefire in Russia-Ukraine war. Read more: The Sun delivers breaking news,