UK Defence Secretary John Healey resigns over military spending dispute

UK Defence Secretary John Healey announced his resignation on June 11 amid disagreements with the government over military expenditure.

He accused Prime Minister Keir Starmer of failing to secure adequate funding for the country’s defence needs, according to Reuters.

The Ministry of Defence and the Treasury have been engaged in months of tense negotiations over increasing the defence budget. Due to the dispute, the implementation of the British defence investment plan has already been delayed since last year.

In a letter addressed to Starmer, Healey stated: “You have been ​unable, and the Treasury has ​been unwilling, to commit the resources that the ‌nation ⁠needs to defend the country at this time of rising threats.”

The delay in approving defence spending has triggered concern within the UK defence sector. Industry representatives say they are unable to plan long-term security investments amid growing geopolitical instability and shifting US foreign policy priorities toward Europe.

By Jeyhun Aghazada