UK premier likely to resist Trump’s defense spending pressure
Keir Starmer, Donald Trump avoid major geopolitical issues in 45-minute phone call
By Aysu Bicer
LONDON (AA) - British Prime Minister Keir Starmer is expected to resist growing pressure from US President Donald Trump and the British military to accelerate an increase in defense spending to 2.5% of GDP by 2030, citing concerns over the fragile state of public finances, local media reported on Monday.
The two leaders held their first conversation since Trump’s inauguration, a 45-minute phone call described by The Times as “warm and personal.”
Trump had previously praised Starmer’s leadership, commending him for “doing a very good job,” and hinted that Britain could be his first official overseas visit.
- Defense spending standoff
While the exchange was amicable, Starmer and Trump avoided key geopolitical flashpoints, such as trade tariffs and the status of the Chagos Islands.
However, tensions persist over defense spending, with Trump urging NATO members to raise their contributions to 5% of GDP.
Starmer has committed to increasing the UK’s defense budget from 2.3% to 2.5%, though he has yet to set a specific deadline.
The government’s strategic defense review is set to conclude in the spring, at which point a target date for meeting the pledge will be determined.
Sources told The Times that the Treasury is hesitant to fast-track the increase due to concerns over public finances.
“If we try to hit the target by 2030, it will mean deeper cuts to public services in the run-up to the election,” a senior government official said. “It feels like a non-starter.” With the next general election due by mid-2029, Labour is eager to avoid politically damaging austerity measures.
The military, however, is growing increasingly frustrated.
A senior defense source, speaking to The Times, said: “The Treasury is putting its fingers in its ears again, saying it has to be 2.3%, maybe it can be 2.5% in the distant future. But that is going to lead to some very bad headlines about cuts to the military at a time of war in Europe.”
The government has dismissed speculation that the target will not be met this decade as “pure speculation.”
Meanwhile, tensions between No. 10 and the Trump administration have escalated following Starmer’s appointment of Lord Peter Mandelson as British ambassador to Washington.
The move has angered senior Republicans, with Trump’s campaign adviser Chris LaCivita calling Mandelson “an absolute moron” and advising him to “stay home.”
Adding to Starmer’s challenges, billionaire tech mogul Elon Musk, whom Trump appointed to lead efforts to cut government inefficiency, has launched an online campaign against the prime minister.
Musk has criticized Starmer’s handling of the grooming gangs scandal, further fueling political divisions.
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