British Prime Minister Keir Starmer (center) and British Defense Minister John Healey (right) met with BAE Systems apprentices, who viewed undersea mode during a joint visit to Barrow-In-Furness in the UK on March 20. Starmer said Britain must escalate its military by responding to Russia's threat. WPA Pool/Getty Images Closed subtitles
In a stark report this week, British Prime Minister Keir Starmer proposed the biggest increase in defense spending since the Cold War, warning that Britain must be ready to fight in Europe at any time. The move marks the latest shift in the defense posture of NATO members since the beginning of the Ukrainian war.
The Prime Minister announced the 2025 strategic defense review on Monday that Britain must move towards "combat preparation."
Starmer, who once announced his desire to increase military spending, vowed to create a "ready, armored country." He said the UK "can't ignore the threat posed by Russia."
Steamer, who leads the UK's left-wing government, said: "The threat we face is more serious, more direct, and more unpredictable than at any time since the Cold War."
This review makes Britain a good company for its European NATO allies. It is worth noting that Poland and Germany are heading in a similar direction - aiming to change the military to meet the challenges posed by Russia after its full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022.
Since then, Warsaw has increased its defense spending to 4.2% from 2.7% in 2024, a figure expected to grow to 4.7% in 2025. Similarly, Germany's overall defense spending increased from 1.38% of GDP when Russia invaded Ukraine to 2% of GDP in 2024. Last year, German Defense Minister Boris Pistorius said it was expected to increase further. Russian President Vladimir "Putin's war economy is working to resolve another conflict," Pistorius said in October. "We have to prepare for war by 2029. We need deterrence to stop the worst."
On September 3, 2024, a Polish soldier stood on an Abrams M1A1 tank during the 2024 International Defence Industry Exhibition in Kiels, Poland. On September 3, 2024, Poland and Germany were among the countries aiming to change the military to meet the challenges raised by Russia. Sergei is because /afp is via gettty image Closed subtitles
Malcolm Chalmers, Deputy Director General, Think Tank of the Royal Joint Service Institute (RUSI) In London, the transformation from a few years ago to German military thinking was described as "very outstanding". He said that, as far as Britain is concerned, it would be "unthinkable" before Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine.
While these actions by key NATO members are clear in response to Russia’s security threat, some experts highlighted another fundamental factor: the Trump administration’s approach to the coalition and the president’s response to the origins and implications of the Kremlin’s war in Ukraine.
For some, this shift could prove Trump’s U.S. first strategy – a sign that forcing allies to increase their defense spending is working. For others, this marks a more disturbing possibility: In the face of major conflict, Washington's long-term assurance in defending Europe may no longer be guaranteed.
“In a sense, the Trump administration is an unpredictable ally,” said Phil Dickinson, deputy director of the Atlantic Commission’s Transatlantic Security Initiative. Furthermore, he said, “We are broadly acknowledged that we are in different geopolitical times… While we may not be directly at war, we are certainly no longer at peace.”
Chalmers believes that the content of the UK's defense plan is "shaped by Donald Trump's return to the US presidency."
"The reason why Europeans need to do more of the Defense Department is not primarily to convince the United States to stay - it is to prepare for the possibility that the United States may leave," he said.
If approved by parliament, the UK plans to increase defense spending from 2.3% of GDP to 2.5% in 2027, with a goal of 3% of GDP over the next parliamentary term. This includes spending about £68 billion ($92 billion) on modernizing the military. The commentary said London’s goal is to lead NATO by strengthening nuclear power and improving military technology, while learning lessons from the Ukrainian war by innovating in drones and digital warfare.
A core element of the plan is the development of a "hybrid navy" that includes more than a dozen new nuclear attack submarines, advanced warships and support vessels, upgraded aircraft carriers, and autonomous patrols to operate in the North Atlantic and beyond.
It also called on the RAF to begin developing aircraft that can operate in concert with drones - similar to the concept of the recently announced F-47 announcement by the Trump administration. The plan said the UK will also build up to 7,000 new long-range weapons to “provide greater European deterrence.”
The comment also addressed the shrinking British army, which now has more than 70,000 combat soldiers, less than half its strength at the end of the Cold War. The proposal includes a modest increase in active duty personnel strengthened by revitalized reserves. This move is a "technical refresh of military technology" rather than a huge increase in personnel or equipment. Keir Giles is a Russian expert at Chatham House, a London-based think tank.
To maintain operations, the UK will also establish six new factories to create a continuous "always" ammunition supply line.
The broader strategy also seeks to drive economic growth through industry partnerships and major procurement overhauls - in the words of Prime Minister Starmer, it is a "defense dividend."
"The overall view of defense, especially to revive Britain's defense industry, has shrunk for decades," Giles said.
As the Steamer Labor government has said the plan may be approved by parliament as it will accept all 62 suggestions included in the defense review.