NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte has called on the United Kingdom to outline a clear and credible plan for progressively increasing its defence budget to meet the alliance’s target of spending 3.5% of GDP by the middle of the next decade. Speaking after meetings with senior UK officials, Rutte emphasized that the UK cannot wait until 2034 to make the necessary budgetary adjustments and must instead commit to incremental annual rises.

Rutte, a former Dutch prime minister now serving as NATO’s secretary general, underscored the importance of setting out a “credible path” to achieve the defence spending goal. In an interview, he acknowledged that the UK would need to increase its defence outlays gradually rather than reaching the target abruptly. “It cannot be done in one go in 2034,” he said, stressing the need for steady, year-on-year increases.

The NATO chief’s comments followed a series of meetings in the UK, including discussions with Defence Secretary Wes Streeting and Foreign Secretary Ed Miliband. Earlier, Rutte met with Prime Minister Keir Starmer during a visit to a business park in Oxfordshire, as well as representatives from the UK defence sector.

The call for a detailed spending roadmap comes amid ongoing debates within the UK government about defence budget priorities. Current projections indicate that defence spending will stabilize at around 2.7% of GDP until at least 2028–29, falling short of the 3.5% target by nearly £30 billion. This gap has raised questions about how the UK intends to fulfil its NATO commitments.

Keir Starmer’s administration has reaffirmed the commitment to meet NATO’s 3.5% target, a goal initially promoted under previous political pressure, including from former US President Donald Trump. The target has also gained support from key Labour figures, including Andy Burnham and Chancellor John Healey, both of whom have urged greater defence investment.

Separately, the European Union announced additional military assistance for Ukraine. European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen stated that €3.3 billion would be released imminently to provide missiles and drones to Ukrainian forces. The announcement followed a recent conversation between von der Leyen and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, reflecting ongoing international efforts to support Ukraine amid its conflict with Russia.

Together, these developments highlight the broader context of defence spending and security commitments across Europe as NATO members navigate evolving geopolitical challenges.