59 h. ago UK faces calls for 5% GDP defence spend, ahead of PM’s meeting with Nato chief

Mark Rutte, the secretary general of the alliance, said on Thursday he is proposing Nato members spend 5% of gross domestic product (GDP) on defence.

Politics

65 h. ago Starmer to meet Nato’s Rutte amid US pressure to spend 5% of GDP on defence – Europe live

US defence secretary Pete Hegseth says there is ‘near consensus’ on funding commitment for Nato member statesUK trade secretary Jonathan Reynolds has also called for reforms of the WTO including changes to the much-criticised dispute resolutions system which can also take years to settle disputes between trading nations.“We do recognise that reforming and repositioning the WTO so that it can respond more effectively to the challenges of today is the only way to safeguard long term stability and growth tomorrow. Continue reading...

Events

68 h. ago NATO nations must spend 5% GDP on defence and end 'reliance' on US to defend them, Pete Hegseth tells meeting of alliance chiefs

'Our message is going to continue to be clear. It's deterrence and peace through strength, but it can't be reliance,' Hegseth said at a meeting with counterparts in Brussels.

Politics

3 d. ago NATO chief makes huge demand to UK on defence spending after Donald Trump calls

NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte today said allies will find themselves 'in great difficulty' in the coming years if they stick with the current 2% GDP alliance spending target

Politics

3 d. ago Why Geert Wilders’ plan to become Netherlands leader may well backfire

Dutch far-right leader’s withdrawal from ruling coalition has upset allies and misjudged political landscape It is a gamble that Geert Wilders may live to regret. Increasingly frustrated by his coalition partners’ unwillingness to embrace his promised “strictest asylum policy in Europe”, the Dutch far-right leader brought down the government.Wilders’ calculation, if it is more than a fit of political pique, appears simple: if he can turn this autumn’s snap elections into a referendum on immigration and asylum, his Freedom party (PVV) can win it – and he might even become the Netherlands’ prime minister. Continue reading...

Politics

3 d. ago Why Geert Wilders’ plan to become Netherlands PM may well backfire

Dutch far-right leader’s withdrawal from ruling coalition has upset allies and misjudged changed political landscapeIt is a gamble that Geert Wilders may live to regret. Increasingly frustrated by his coalition partners’ unwillingness to embrace his promised “strictest asylum policy in Europe”, the Dutch far-right leader brought down the government.Wilders’ calculation, if it is more than a fit of political pique, appears simple: if he can turn this autumn’s snap elections into a referendum on immigration and asylum, his Freedom party (PVV) can win it – and he might even become the Netherlands’ prime minister. Continue reading...

Events

3 d. ago Will Nato states have to find $325BILLION a year more for defence? Alliance chief heaps pressure on Starmer saying Europe and Canada must 'equalise' contributions with the US

Nato secretary-general Mark Rutte warned that the current target of spending 2 per cent of GDP on defence is no longer sustainable after very public criticism from Donald Trump.

Economics

4 d. ago UK set to back Nato push for members to spend 3.5% of GDP on defence

Commitment to new target expected at summit despite fresh questions for Keir Starmer over funding

Politics

4 d. ago Ukraine hits Crimea bridge with underwater explosives – Europe live

Russia says traffic has been temporarily suspended on the road and rail bridgeItalian prime minister Giorgia Meloni and France’s president Emmanuel Macron will aim to reconcile their difference in talks in Rome on Tuesday, according to AFP.The European rivals are meeting in the Italian capital from 18.00 GMT for talks and then dinner, an encounter Macron said he had initiated. Continue reading...

Events

4 d. ago Nato ‘will force Starmer to spend 3.5% of GDP on defence’ to keep Trump happy

PM under pressure from nuclear alliance and US president after row over funding threatened to derail the launch of strategic defence review,

Politics

4 d. ago Nato to force UK to lift defence spending to 3.5% of GDP to appease Trump, say sources

Starmer bound to accept Mark Rutte’s higher target after announcing ‘Nato-first’ defence strategy, insiders sayDefence sources believe that Britain will be forced to sign up to a target of lifting defence spending to 3.5% of GDP by 2035 at this month’s Nato summit after a campaign by the alliance’s secretary general to keep Donald Trump onboard.One senior insider said Britain would “without a doubt” sign up to a proposal from the Nato chief, Mark Rutte, to lift allies’ defence spending, which would represent a real-terms increase of about £30bn from the Labour government’s plan. Continue reading...

Politics

5 d. ago Defending Britain with the magic money tree? Starmer warned he faces hiking taxes to get the country 'war

Keir Starmer has heralded a strategic review of the UK's military, promising investment in new submarines, munitions and personnel.

Events

5 d. ago Starmer claims he's making Britain ready for WAR as UK faces 'new nuclear risks' and 'Russian aggression'... but he won't say how he will pay for it

Keir Starmer is heralding a strategic review of the UK's military, promising investment in new submarines, munitions and personnel.

Events

6 d. ago Labour is accused of making an embarrassing retreat on defence spending as Defence Secretary downgrades 3 per cent GDP military pledge to an 'ambition'

The Defence Secretary (pictured, with Sir Keir Starmer) has rowed back on a commitment to spend 3 per cent of GDP on national security by 2034.

Events

6 d. ago Nato must brace to be attacked by Putin warns Germany's defence chief

Germany's defence chief has starkly warned that NATO should be prepared for a possible attack by Russia in the next four years. 

Events

7 d. ago UK on track to spend 3% of GDP on defence by 2034, says Healey

The Defence Secretary has promised a ‘certain decade of rising defence spending’.

Politics

4 w. ago Dutch leader says NATO's chief insists allies should spend at least 3.5% of GDP on defense budgets

Dutch Prime Minister Dick Schoof says NATO’s chief wants the allies to agree to start spending at least 3.5% of GDP on their defense budgets at their summit next month

Politics