Wes Streeting, the United Kingdom’s new Defence Secretary, has declined to commit to increasing the country’s military spending to 3 percent of gross domestic product (GDP) by 2030, a target previously advocated by his predecessor. Speaking at the Farnborough International Airshow in Hampshire, Streeting emphasized the importance of prudent fiscal management while reaffirming the government’s broader goal to meet NATO-aligned defence spending levels in the mid-2030s.
When pressed about endorsing a 3 percent defence spending target by the end of the decade, Streeting stated that budget decisions fall under the remit of the Chancellor of the Exchequer, currently John Healey, and declined to set specific timelines. Healey, who took over as Chancellor after resigning as Defence Secretary, had expressed concerns that existing plans—aiming for defence expenditure to reach 2.7 percent of GDP by 2030—were insufficient to maintain national security. Streeting reiterated his support for increased investment in defence but stressed the need for any additional resources to be allocated efficiently and effectively.
Streeting highlighted his intention to work closely with both Chancellor Healey and Prime Minister Andy Burnham on defence priorities, stressing that they understood the sector’s urgent needs. He pointed to efforts to modernize the Ministry of Defence through improved procurement processes and better productivity to ensure existing funds are spent wisely. Streeting also mentioned plans to assess the United Kingdom’s involvement in the Defence, Security and Resilience Bank, a financing initiative designed to support defence collaboration, which he suggested could complement existing multilateral mechanisms championed by the previous government alongside Finland and the Netherlands.
The Defence Secretary faced criticism from opposition figures who argued that his refusal to endorse a specific spending increase reflected a lack of commitment to national security. Shadow Armed Forces Minister Mark Francois described the current spending framework as leaving a significant funding shortfall, while Conservative MP Ben Obese-Jecty linked Streeting’s stance to a perceived unwillingness by opposition leaders, including Keir Starmer, to prioritize defence investment. Streeting dismissed suggestions that the government was attempting to fund defence on the cheap, saying he was “trying not to be on the wrong side of the Chancellor,” and emphasized that his public calls for enhanced defence funding were on the record.
In a wider context, Streeting also commented on international military conduct, notably criticizing Israel’s military actions in Gaza. While affirming the UK’s support for Israel’s right to self-defence, he stated that Israel should be held to the same military standards as the UK and suggested it had fallen short in its recent operations. This statement came amid ongoing conflict in the region, where health officials in Gaza report significant casualties.
Streeting, who has not served in the armed forces, portrayed himself as a reformer and modernizer, citing his previous ministerial experience in health as relevant to managing the Defence Ministry’s complex challenges. His approach underscores the government’s balancing act between fiscal responsibility and the demands of maintaining a capable and modern military force amid evolving global security threats.