British Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer has pledged to publish the UK government's long-awaited Defence Investment Plan ahead of next month's NATO summit in Ankara, following growing pressure over the UK's military spending commitments.
According to Downing Street, Starmer made the commitment during a phone call with NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte on Saturday, as the alliance prepares for key discussions on defence funding and collective security.
The announcement comes just days after the resignation of UK Defence Secretary John Healey, who accused the government of failing to provide sufficient funding to meet the scale of modern security threats. Healey had argued that the defence plan did not go far enough and warned that Britain risked falling short of its obligations to NATO allies.
In a statement, a Downing Street spokesperson said Starmer had updated Rutte on preparations for the strategy, "underlining his commitment to publish it ahead of the NATO summit in Ankara".
The spokesperson added that both leaders agreed allies must strengthen collective defence and respond more rapidly to evolving threats.
Rutte welcomed the UK's plan to increase defence investment, describing it as an important contribution to the alliance at a time of heightened geopolitical tensions.
The Defence Investment Plan was originally expected to be published last year, but it has faced repeated delays. It is expected to outline how the government intends to modernise the armed forces, invest in new capabilities and increase defence spending in the coming years.
Starmer has insisted national security remains a priority and has reiterated his ambition to raise defence spending to three per cent of GDP during the next parliament. However, Healey's departure has intensified scrutiny of the government's approach ahead of the NATO gathering, where allies are expected to discuss spending targets and long-term security commitments.
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