4 h. ago Keir Starmer heads to Nato summit where he will vow to spend 5% of GDP on defence

Sir Keir Starmer's pledge to increase defence and security spending to 5 per cent of GDP by 2035 was last night branded 'a con'.

Politics

6 h. ago UK to spend 5% of GDP on security as wars rage in Europe and Middle East, says Starmer ahead of Nato summit

The Prime Minister stressed Britain has been plunged into an ‘era of radical uncertainty’ by growing threats

Events

6 h. ago Starmer pledges to spend 5% of GDP on national security and defence by 2035

But Downing Street will not say how the new NATO commitment demanded by Donald Trump will be paid for by the UK taxpayer

Events

6 h. ago Germany to boost defence spending at faster rate than France or UK

Berlin plans a 70% increase in military spending to €162bn by 2029, according to leaked paper

Politics

6 h. ago Starmer to commit to spending 5% of GDP on defence by 2035 at Nato summit

The figure is in line with the demands of President Donald Trump, who has called for Nato allies to shoulder more of the burden of European defence.

Politics

11 h. ago Defence spending target of 5% GDP a ‘quantum leap’ in security, says Nato’s Rutte– Europe live

Ukrainian president to hold talks with UK PM after meeting with kingFor more updates on the Israel-Iran war, including US president Donald Trump’s call to “make Iran great again”, you can also follow our live blog here run by Jane Clinton:Let’s stop for a moment on that question of the EU-Israel association agreement, which sees Spain calling for immediate suspension of the deal, while Germany appears to be distancing itself from it. Continue reading...

Events

11 h. ago Nato to unveil new 5% defence spending target this week, chief indicates

Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer is among the world leaders expected in The Hague in the Netherlands this week for the Nato summit.

Events

12 h. ago 'Doctor Who' mansion is the one place in UK will be safe if WW3 breaks out

It comes as NATO allies including the UK have reportedly agreed to double their defence spending as part of an agreement that will see all 32 member countries commit to a target of 5% of GDP by 2035

Science

18 h. ago UK steps closer to WW3 as NATO doubles defence spending in move similar to WW1 prelude

NATO allies have agreed to commit to spending 5% of GDP on defence spending and related infrastructure by 2035, according to Sky News, which cited two sources with knowledge of discussions.

Politics

25 h. ago Europeans back higher defence spending amid Russia threat, poll finds

Majorities in some countries back mandatory military service, and poll shows public sharply divided over TrumpFaced with an unpredictable Donald Trump and an aggressive Russia, Europeans favour increased spending on defence and, in some countries, compulsory military service.A survey of 12 countries for the European Council on Foreign Relations showed majorities for increased defence spending in Poland (70%), Denmark (70%) and the UK (57%). Continue reading...

Events

64 h. ago Japan pulls out of talks with Trump administration after ‘being ordered to spend more on defence’

The two countries were set to hold annual security talks on 1 July

Politics

3 d. ago Norway backs Nato’s 5% defence spending target despite Spain rejecting it as ‘unreasonable’ – Europe live

PM Jonas Gahr Støre declared Norway’s support for the 5% target proposed by Nato’s secretary general Mark RutteIn Berlin, meanwhile, a German government spokesperon said that Iran will probably be a topic of discussion at next week’s Nato summit in The Hague.“We do not comment on allies’ possible attack plans,” the spokesperson said, referring to US president Donald Trump saying he would decide within two weeks whether his country would join Israeli strikes. Continue reading...

Events

4 d. ago Spain rejects Nato plan for member states to spend 5% of GDP on defence

PM Pedro Sánchez says he wants a ‘more flexible formula’ that would make target optional or allow Madrid to opt outSpain’s prime minister, Pedro Sánchez, has rejected Nato’s proposal for member states to increase their defence spending to 5% of their GDP, saying the idea would “not only be unreasonable but also counterproductive”.Sánchez said that he was not seeking to complicate next week’s Nato summit in The Hague, but he wanted there to be a “more flexible formula” that would either make the target optional or allow Spain to opt out. Continue reading...

Politics

4 d. ago Spain threatens to block NATO 5% defence spending target in snub to alliance chief who demanded nations boost spending

NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte is pushing bloc members to boost their defence spending to 5% GDP by 2032, after Trump declared America's allies were shirking their responsibilities

Events

4 d. ago Spanish PM rejects Nato’s ‘unreasonable’ 5% GDP target for defence spending – Europe live

Pedro Sánchez reportedly says move would be ‘counterproductive’ and harm Spanish economy Earlier today, I cheekily suggested that Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelenskyy is probably wondering how to persuade US president Donald Trump to stay at the Nato summit in The Hague next week long enough to get to discussions on Ukraine and Russia – and not leave early, as he did at the G7 summit.Well, looks like this issue may have actually influenced the planning.“Budapest city hall will organise the Budapest Pride march on 28 June as a city event. Period.” Continue reading...

Events

6 d. ago Why Europe should hijack Nato for its own purposes | Paul Taylor

As the Trump administration’s security focus shifts towards countering China, European governments are living on borrowed timeCall it the five-for-five summit. When Nato leaders meet in The Hague next week, European allies will sign up to a phoney transatlantic bargain in which they pretend they will spend 5% of their economic output on defence and Donald Trump pretends in return that he is committed to Article 5 of the Nato treaty, the mutual defence clause that he has repeatedly undermined.The Nato secretary general, Mark Rutte, is deploying all his considerable political wiles and powers of persuasion to contrive a short, “no surprises” summit at which fundamental differences over Russia’s war of aggression against Ukraine, trade, the Middle East and liberal democratic values are deliberately excluded.Paul Taylor is a senior visiting fellow at the European Policy Centre Continue reading...

Politics

6 d. ago China stockpiling nuclear warheads at fastest rate globally, new research shows

New report estimates that China now has at least 600 nuclear warheads, with around 100 per year being added to the stockpile since 2023China is growing its stockpile of nuclear warheads at a faster rate than any other country, according to newly published research.A report published on Monday by the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI) estimated that China now has at least 600 nuclear warheads, with about 100 per year being added to the stockpile since 2023. Continue reading...

Events

1 week ago Voices: Will Israel’s war on Iran force Keir Starmer to raise defence spending even more?

Despite talking of moving Britain to ‘war-fighting readiness’, the prime minister has so far resisted Nato pressure to increase spending further, writes John Rentoul

Politics

1 week ago Keir Starmer must come to the defence of his chancellor’s spending review

Editorial: In spite of Rachel Reeves’s much-vaunted increase in MoD expenditure, a rise to 2.6 per cent of GDP can only be achieved by draining the overseas aid budget, reallocating intelligence agency funds, and other sleights of hand. When the prime minister faces Nato leaders, including Donald Trump, he will have no choice but to spin the numbers

Politics

1 week ago Nato secretary general says Europe needs to ‘ramp up defence spending’ as foreign ministers meet in Rome – Europe live

Mark Rutte says ‘we have to spend more’ as ministers discuss Weimar+ model ahead of Nato summit later this monthEuropean foreign ministers are now arriving in Rome for their Weimar+ meeting on security and Ukraine.Italy’s foreign minister Antonio Tajani said his country needs “at least 10 years” to raise defence spending and comply with new targets to be agreed by Nato, adding that a deal on them could soon be reached, Reuters reported. Continue reading...

Politics