NATO chief urges UK to map out steady yearly hikes toward 3.5% defence spend
NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg told the Press Association that the UK must follow a credible, incremental path to reach the alliance’s 3.5% of GDP defence-spending goal by 2035.
In an exclusive interview, NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg stressed that alliance members, especially the United Kingdom, must adhere to a realistic, step-by-step plan to achieve the 3.5% of GDP defence-budget target by 2035. He warned that postponing the increase until the deadline would be naïve given the threat of additional Russian hybrid actions. Stoltenberg noted that a gradual glide-path with yearly increments is essential because a single jump in 2034 is unfeasible.
He later met with UK Prime Minister Rishi Burnham and senior opposition figures Ed Miliband and Wes Streeting, receiving praise for the UK’s stated commitment. Mark Rutte added that the precise schedule will be set out during the upcoming spending review, underscoring the need for a credible roadmap.
Why it matters
The UK's defence-budget trajectory affects NATO’s collective security and its ability to deter Russian aggression.
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