Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer said Friday he must "turn things around" after two senior ministers resigned over the government's defence-spending plan [1].
The resignations of the Defence Secretary and the Armed Forces Minister signal a growing rift within the UK government over how to balance national security with fiscal constraints. This internal instability comes as the administration faces pressure to modernize military capabilities amid shifting global threats.
Speaking from Downing Street, Starmer said he defended the government's trajectory and addressed the departures of the two officials [1], [2]. The Prime Minister said the administration is prepared to make significant budgetary shifts to ensure military readiness.
To fund these increases, Starmer announced a cut to foreign aid [3]. He said the government wants to raise defence spending to 3% of GDP [3]. Other reports indicate a target to increase spending to 2.5% of GDP by 2027 [4].
"We want to raise defence spending to 3% of GDP and are cutting foreign aid to fund it," Starmer said [3].
The shift in spending priorities follows criticism from within the defence sector regarding the adequacy of current funding levels [1], [2]. The resignations highlight a fundamental disagreement over the pace, and scale of investment required for the UK's armed forces.
Starmer said the government remains committed to its long-term security goals despite the ministerial exits [1]. The administration is now tasked with filling the vacancies in the Ministry of Defence while implementing the new funding targets [2].
“"I must turn things around."”
The decision to divert funds from foreign aid to the military represents a strategic pivot in UK foreign policy. By prioritizing a higher GDP percentage for defence—potentially reaching 3%—the Starmer administration is signaling a move toward a more militarized posture of national security, though the internal resignations suggest this transition lacks full consensus within the cabinet.
