The British government has slashed its foreign aid budget to fund a dramatic increase in defence spending in response to “tyrant” Vladimir Putin and uncertainty over US president Donald Trump’s commitment to European security.
UK prime minister Keir Starmer said spending on defence would rise from its current 2.3 per cent share of the economy to 2.5 per cent in 2027.
That will mean spending £13.4 billion (€16 billion) more every year from 2027, something which Mr Starmer acknowledged required “extremely difficult and painful choices”.
He said he wanted that figure to reach 3 per cent of gross domestic product during the next parliament.
But to fund it, development assistance aid will be slashed from its current level of 0.5 per cent of gross national income to 0.3 per cent in 2027.
