"The prime minister is considering making a significant increase in defence spending, the BBC has learned. Downing Street is mulling the idea of meeting an existing spending target earlier than planned at a potential cost of billions of pounds. Sir Keir Starmer signalled his attitude over the weekend at the Munich Security Conference, telling world leaders: "To meet the wider threat, it's clear that we are going to have to spend more, faster.""
"The prime minister promised last year to spend 2.5% of national wealth measured as gross domestic product (GDP) - on core defence by April 2027. But he also set out an "ambition" to increase that spending to 3% of GDP in the next parliament. The BBC has been told the prime minister's aides are now looking at proposals to meet that 3% ambition by the end of the current parliament, which could last until 2029."
"Sir Richard Knighton, chief of the defence staff, told MPs in January: "We cannot do everything we would want to do, as quickly as we want to do it, within the context of the budget we have set". Officials said this realisation - that previous commitments would not cover rising defence costs and existing bills was driving the idea of bringing forward the spending plans."
The prime minister is considering bringing forward a substantial increase in defence spending to meet a 3% of GDP target earlier than originally planned. The government previously pledged 2.5% of GDP on core defence by April 2027 and set an ambition to reach 3% in the next parliament. Aides are examining proposals to achieve 3% by the end of the current parliament, which could run until 2029, with the Treasury cautious about costs. Military leaders warn current budgets cannot deliver all commitments quickly. Final decisions have not been made and the defence investment plan remains being finalised.
Read at www.bbc.com
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