UPDATE - UK to boost defense spending to 2.5% by 2030, says premier

UPDATES WITH ADDITIONAL REMARKS BY SUNAK, STOLTENBERG; CHANGES DECK

By Aysu Bicer and Jo Harper

LONDON / WARSAW (AA) — British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak said on Tuesday that he has fully funded plans to increase defense spending every year to 2.5% of the country's gross domestic product by 2030.

At a news conference with NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg at a military base in Poland, Sunak declared Britain's commitment to bolstering national defense in the face of "growing threats from Russia, Iran, North Korea, and China."

"National security is our first duty. The danger they pose is not new, but their collaboration and attempts to reshape the world order demand a robust response," he said.

Sunak also said that over the next six years, an additional £75 billion (nearly $93 billion) will be invested in defense, marking what he described as "the biggest strengthening of our national defense for a generation."

Key priorities under the initiative were outlined by Sunak, emphasizing readiness, innovation, and international solidarity.

He asserted that the country would undergo a shift to "war footing," recognizing the need for deeper stockpiles of munitions and increased production capacity.

To this end, £10 billion in munitions support will be provided to industry, ensuring certainty in long-term funding and readiness to respond to emergent threats, said Sunak.

Sunak also highlighted the importance of prioritizing innovation and new technology to maintain a strategic advantage on an evolving battlefield.

He reaffirmed Britain's commitment to supporting Ukraine, stressing that failure to do so would have far-reaching consequences.

Sunak underscored the need to stand with allies in times of crisis, asserting that the costs "of failing to support Ukraine now will be far greater than the costs of repelling Putin."

- Support for Ukraine

Sunak also announced that the UK will be providing an additional £500 million ($560 million) to Ukraine on top of £2.5 billion already earmarked for Kyiv.

"Britain cannot be complacent when the world is the most dangerous since the Cold War," he said.

Underlining that “adversaries” are drawing closer together, Sunak urged more action to “defend our interests and our values."

"Defending Ukraine against Russia's brutal ambitions is vital for our security and for all of Europe. If Putin is allowed to succeed in this war of aggression, he will not stop at the Polish border," he asserted.

This comes soon after the US approved $61 billion war aid for Ukraine.

The UK has announced that it would be sending more than 1,600 strike and air defense missiles to Ukraine as military assistance, as well as more long-range Storm Shadow cruise missiles, 400 vehicles, 60 boats, and 4 million rounds of ammunition. It has also said it would deploy an air force squadron to help police Poland's skies for NATO in 2025.

Stoltenberg, for his part, said NATO would give Ukraine more advanced air defenses after a NATO-Ukraine summit last week.

Speaking at the news conference with Sunak, he noted that in 2014, only three NATO allies spent more than 2% of GDP on defense.

"This year, two-thirds of NATO countries, 20 or perhaps even more, will be reaching that target," he added.

In response to a question about the potential reelection of former US President Donald Trump, who has been critical of NATO defense spending levels, Stoltenberg said a strong NATO would also be "good for the United States."

He underlined that, regardless of who wins the US presidential election in November, he predicted Washington would remain a loyal ally.