UK trying to delay Nato 5% defence target by three years ...Middle East

Nato allies will meet next week for a summit at The Hague, in which they are expected to agree a target to increase their defence spending to 5 per cent of GDP to deter Russian aggression.

Nato’s Secretary General, Mark Rutte, and the US are both pushing for the increase be complete by 2032, but the UK has proposed a new deadline of 2035 with a review clause in 2029, The i Paper understands.

The UK is leading the charge to delay the increase, backed by Spain which is also unhappy with the rise, diplomatic insiders said.

A Government spokesperson said: “We have a strong track record on defence spending and will continue to make a major contribution to Nato.

British defence spending has been a contentious issue in recent weeks, with a public rift between the Prime Minister and Defence Secretary over the plans.

The Government said it has an “ambition” to spend 3 per cent by the 2030s, but has refused to commit to a timeline for doing so.

Keir Starmer shakes hands with Nato Secretary General Mark Rutte in Downing Street. Rutte warned the UK must increase its defence spending to 5 per cent or ‘learn to speak Russian’ (Photo: Jordan Pettitt/Pool via Reuters)

The UK spends more than some Nato allies including Belgium and Canada (both around 1.3 per cent) and less than the US (3.4 per cent) and Baltic countries including Poland (more than 4 per cent).

In 2014, a pledge was agreed in Wales to reach 2 per cent of GDP on defence, and this is still not been met by all allies more than ten years on.

Accept increase or ‘learn to speak Russian’, Nato warns

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The White House has also demanded that the UK and other allies increase their spending on defence to 5 per cent of GDP in order to deter the threat of a Russian attack.

“This is not going to be just a pledge. This is going to be a commitment,” he said.

“Every ally must commit to investing at least 5 per cent of GDP in defence and security, starting now. This is not a suggestion. It’s a baseline.”

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