Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer and former U.S. President Donald Trump engaged in a public disagreement over defence spending during the G7 summit held this week in the French Alps. Despite tensions over military funding, Sir Keir maintained that relations between the two leaders remain amicable, stating that they continue to communicate regularly, even though no formal one-on-one meeting is scheduled.

The dispute centers on the delayed defence investment plan, with Trump’s administration recently urging the UK government to increase its military budget. However, Sir Keir indicated that further additional funds are unlikely, having already reprioritized spending by cutting budgets from other departments to cover some defence needs. He emphasized that the allocation of these resources now falls under the remit of the newly appointed Defence Secretary Dan Jarvis.

This disagreement follows a period of strain between the two leaders, which escalated previously over divergences on the Iran conflict. The defence spending row also contributed to the recent resignation of Defence Secretary John Healey and Armed Forces Minister Al Carns, highlighting internal challenges within the UK government over military funding.

Chief of Defence Staff Sir Richard Knighton expressed concerns over the implications of restricted budgets, warning that without increased financial support, the Armed Forces will be compelled to scale back operations and reduce training activities, potentially affecting overall military readiness.

Alongside these developments, the summit featured separate engagements, including a discussion between Trump and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky. Additionally, Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el-Sissi urged Israel to reconsider its plans to assume control over 70 percent of Gaza, reflecting ongoing regional tensions discussed at the gathering.