Thu Feb 27 12:41:06 UTC 2025: **UK PM Starmer Announces Major Defence Spending Hike, Cuts Foreign Aid**

LONDON – British Prime Minister Keir Starmer announced a significant increase in defence spending, funded by a 40 percent cut to the foreign aid budget. The move, announced Tuesday, aims to raise defence spending to 2.5 percent of GDP by April 2027 and 3 percent by 2029. This represents an annual increase of £13.4 billion ($17 billion).

Starmer cited a “dangerous new era” marked by global conflicts, including the war in Ukraine, as justification for the increase. He emphasized the need to bolster national security and resilience. The decision comes amid concerns about a potential US-Russia deal on Ukraine that could sideline Kyiv and its allies, and ahead of a meeting with US President Donald Trump.

The substantial increase in defence spending, the largest since the Cold War, will be achieved by slashing the foreign aid budget from 0.5 percent to 0.3 percent of GDP until 2027. While Starmer expressed reluctance about the aid cuts, he insisted national security was paramount.

The announcement has drawn sharp criticism. Former Foreign Secretary David Miliband condemned the aid cuts as damaging to Britain’s global reputation. Experts like Ian Mitchell of the Centre for Global Development warned the cuts are “short-sighted” and will negatively impact vital humanitarian projects, particularly in the Global South. Others, including former Defence Minister Ben Wallace, criticized the increase in defence spending as insufficient to meet the UK’s security challenges. Conversely, some commentators argued the increase is necessary given the geopolitical landscape and that foreign aid was an inefficient use of taxpayer money.

The foreign aid cuts are expected to have substantial consequences, particularly in Africa, the largest recipient of UK aid. The government has not yet specified which programs will be affected. The decision highlights a difficult balancing act for Starmer’s government, seeking to prioritize national security while facing pressure to manage public spending.

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