Former NATO Secretary General Lord George Robertson has criticized the UK government's defense spending plans, warning that Prime Minister Keir Starmer may face a "frosty" reception from allies at an upcoming NATO summit due to a lack of a concrete commitment to the 3.5% defense spending target.
Robertson, a prominent figure in the Labour party and a co-author of Britain's defense strategy review, expressed concern that the government's current approach falls short of the alliance's agreed-upon defense investment goals. He highlighted that the recently announced £15 billion ($20 billion) modernization fund for the armed forces, while significant, does not adequately address the overarching objective of spending 3.5% of GDP on core defense by 2035.
The 3.5% defense spending target, along with an additional 1.5% for broader national security, was established by NATO allies last year in response to demands from U.S. President Donald Trump for European nations to increase their contributions to collective security. Robertson argued that the delay in publishing a comprehensive Defense Investment Plan has not only hindered potential investment but also caused frustration among allies due to its perceived failure to project a clear commitment to the 3.5% benchmark.
Speaking to a parliamentary committee, Robertson stated that "we are running out of years" to adequately prepare for escalating threats to the alliance, which he believes are more serious and have emerged sooner than anticipated when the defense review was drafted. He suggested that the current plan is insufficient to meet these growing challenges.
The criticism from Robertson and potential similar sentiments expressed at the NATO summit could potentially overshadow Prime Minister Starmer's final foreign engagement before a leadership transition. Robertson predicted that during discussions with President Trump and other NATO leaders, "relations may well be frosty."
