UK to present controversial defence plan to NATO ahead of Ankara summit

UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer has informed NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte that the British government will publish its controversial defence investment plan ahead of the Alliance summit in Ankara in July.

The announcement followed a phone call between Starmer and Rutte, during which both sides discussed the need to strengthen collective defence and improve response times to evolving threats.

The NATO Secretary General praised the UK’s increased defence investment, describing it as a significant contribution to the Alliance and to addressing shared security threats.

Starmer reaffirmed the UK’s commitment to raising defence spending to 3% of GDP during the next parliamentary term and said the updated plan will be released before the summit.

The document has previously sparked internal controversy, contributing to the resignation of two senior officials.

By Jeyhun Aghazada