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UK to target 3% of GDP for defence spending, to cut aid budget

Published by Global Banking & Finance Review

Posted on February 25, 2025

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· Last updated: January 25, 2026

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UK to target 3% of GDP for defence spending, to cut aid budget
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LONDON (Reuters) - Britain will aim to spend 3% of its GDP on defence in the next parliament, due to begin in 2029, and will help to fund that increased spending by cutting its aid budget, Prime

UK to target 3% of GDP for defence spending, to cut aid budget

LONDON (Reuters) - Britain will aim to spend 3% of its GDP on defence in the next parliament, due to begin in 2029, and will help to fund that increased spending by cutting its aid budget, Prime Minister Keir Starmer said on Tuesday.

Starmer said the aid budget would be reduced from 0.5% of GDP to 0.3% in 2027.

(Reporting by Sachin Ravikumar and Kate Holton; editing by William James)

Key Takeaways

  • UK plans to spend 3% of GDP on defence by 2029.
  • Aid budget will be cut from 0.5% to 0.3% of GDP by 2027.
  • Prime Minister Keir Starmer announced the changes.
  • Defence spending increase to be funded by aid cuts.
  • Policy changes to begin in the next parliament.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the UK's target for defence spending?
Britain will aim to spend 3% of its GDP on defence in the next parliament, which is set to begin in 2029.
How will the UK fund the increased defence spending?
The increased defence spending will be funded by cutting the aid budget.
What will the aid budget be reduced to?
The aid budget will be reduced from 0.5% of GDP to 0.3% in 2027.

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