UK Adds £15 Billion to Defence Spending
UK Prime Minister Starmer has announced £15 billion more for defence. This is part of a larger plan worth nearly £300 billion over four years.
It would raise UK defence spending to 2.7% of GDP. That would be the highest level in thirty years.
The plan could create nearly 60,000 jobs by the end of the decade. Some road and energy projects will be cut to help pay for it.
Starmer visited Malloy Aeronautics, a firm that designs heavy-lift drones. The visit was part of the announcement.
He said defence spending cannot be a "bottomless pit." He also said the Ministry of Defence must "spend better" with the extra money. Last year Starmer decided to move aid spending toward defence instead. He called this the biggest rise in defence spending since the Cold War ended.
Key Terms 4
- GDP The total value of everything a country produces each year
- Cold War A long political standoff between the West and Soviet Union ending in 1991
- heavy-lift drones Large unmanned aircraft designed to carry heavy loads
- aid spending Money a government gives to help poorer countries