Britain’s new defence secretary, Wes Streeting, declined to commit to increasing military spending to 3 percent of gross domestic product (GDP) by 2030 but reaffirmed the government’s pledge to raise defence expenditure to 3.5 percent of GDP by 2035, aligning with NATO targets. Speaking at the Farnborough International Airshow on July 19, Streeting emphasized the importance of prudent and effective defence investment without promising specific budgetary increases.

When questioned about supporting a rise in defence spending to 3 percent of GDP by 2030—a goal advocated by the previous chancellor and defence secretary, John Healey—Streeting said decisions on the budget were ultimately the chancellor’s responsibility. Healey, who resigned from the new government and had warned the current spending commitments were insufficient to ensure national security, had called for accelerated increases in defence funding. Current plans foresee defence spending reaching 2.7 percent of GDP by 2030.

Streeting rejected suggestions that he aimed to "do defence on the cheap," stressing that he intended to advocate strongly for increased investment while working in concert with Chancellor John Healey, whose position on defence spending he described as “on the record.” He committed to making the “best possible case” for defence funding to the Treasury, signaling a cautious approach to budget negotiations early in his tenure.

The defence secretary also outlined that one of his early priorities would be to assess the United Kingdom’s potential participation in the Defence, Security and Resilience Bank (DSRB) financing scheme. This initiative, designed to offer multilateral defence support, is seen as complementary to the Multilateral Defence Mechanism (MDM) previously championed by the former government alongside Finland and the Netherlands. Streeting indicated he would collaborate closely with the prime minister and chancellor on the matter.

Describing himself as a “moderniser and reformer,” Streeting cited his record as health secretary as the basis for the government’s decision to appoint him to lead the Ministry of Defence. He highlighted the need for efficient use of existing resources, improved productivity, and better procurement practices within the defence sector to ensure taxpayer funds generate optimal returns and support sustainable growth.

In a separate development during the airshow, Streeting commented on Israel’s recent military actions in Gaza. While affirming Britain’s support for Israel’s right to self-defence, he stated that Israel, as a close ally, should be held to the same standards as the United Kingdom and that, in his view, it had “fallen short” of those standards. The ongoing conflict has resulted in significant casualties, with Gaza health officials reporting over 73,000 deaths in the territory. Streeting’s remarks highlighted the delicate balance of maintaining allied relationships while critiquing conduct in contested military operations.