Defence Secretary Wes Streeting has made clear that he would resign if the Treasury fails to fully fund the government’s Defence Investment Plan (DIP), which aims to bolster the United Kingdom’s military capabilities. Streeting described securing adequate funding as a “matter of principle” and insisted the DIP must be funded in full, a position that aligns with concerns raised by his predecessor, now Chancellor John Healey, who resigned over disagreements on defence spending commitments.
The defence plan, published at the end of June after a year of delays, promised an additional £15 billion in spending over the coming years. However, the Treasury has allocated only £10.3 billion so far, leaving a £4.7 billion shortfall that includes £1.8 billion needed for the next financial year. The government is expected to address this funding gap during the autumn budget. Downing Street, led by Prime Minister Andy Burnham, has proposed a £13 billion increase, while the Ministry of Defence had sought £18 billion. Healey stepped down after rejecting the settlement as insufficient.
Prime Minister Burnham has emphasized the priority of fully funding the DIP but has refrained from committing to a specific timeline for reaching the widely discussed target of spending three per cent of GDP on defence. This target has been a point of contention within the government; while Chancellor Healey was a strong advocate for meeting it, Burnham has focused first on closing the current funding gap. The Office for Budget Responsibility estimates that achieving the three per cent goal by 2030 would require an additional £17.3 billion annually.
In addition to domestic defence funding issues, Streeting has voiced support for calls by former US President Donald Trump urging European nations to increase their defence spending. While recognising that Trump’s approach and rhetoric are sometimes controversial, Streeting credited him with prompting Europe to take greater responsibility for its security. Nonetheless, the Defence Secretary affirmed that the UK government would not “suck up” to the former president and would maintain its own interests in dealings with the United States.
Streeting also confirmed ongoing communications with senior US defence officials, including Pete Hegseth, the US Secretary of War, to coordinate on regional security matters, particularly concerning Iran. He reiterated that the UK does not support any offensive military action against Iran but highlighted areas for cooperation, such as securing the Strait of Hormuz and preventing Iran from developing nuclear weapons.
On the international front, Burnham reaffirmed the UK's steadfast support for Ukraine amid ongoing conflict. He is set to welcome Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky on an official visit, marking Burnham’s first international guest since taking office. The visit will include an announcement that Britain will transfer intellectual property rights for its new “Stone Cloak” electronic warfare system, enabling Ukraine to manufacture the technology independently and bolster its defensive capabilities.
A source close to Streeting clarified that the Defence Secretary’s remarks about potential resignation were not intended as an explicit threat but reflected his commitment to ensuring national defence is adequately resourced. Streeting said he would not have accepted the role without clear assurances from both the Prime Minister and Chancellor that they are dedicated to investing in defence.