STARMS & STRIPES
Starmer and his wife Victoria land in Washington DC for Nato and Biden meeting as PM accused of ‘playing with fire’
The PM will hold talks with US President Joe Biden in the White House
SIR Keir Starmer landed in Washington DC today for a crunch Nato summit, amid huge pressure to quickly hike defence spending.
The PM, joined on the trip by wife Lady Victoria, will meet US President Joe Biden and European leaders to discuss strengthening the alliance in an increasingly volatile world.
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Against the backdrop of war in Ukraine and a tinderbox Middle East, Sir Keir is facing urgent calls to rubberstamp a date on his pledge to raise defence spending to 2.5 per cent of GDP.
Philip Ingram, a former colonel in British military intelligence, told The Times the PM is "playing with fire" by delaying a timetable for the hike.
He said: “The threat is now and it will take years to fix the army, our ammunition stocks, get the RAF and navy ready”.
This morning Armed Forces Minister Luke Pollard insisted a new strategic review into defence spending, beginning next week, will set out a path to 2.5 per cent.
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The review will consider Vladimir Putin’s invasion of Ukraine, Middle East instability and the rise of authoritarian countries such as China and Iran.
It will also look at Britain’s military’s capabilities in the face of growing threats.
Mr Pollard told Times Radio: "This will be a Nato-first strategic defence review, a focus on our unshakeable commitment to the North Atlantic, to the Europe area, to make sure that we're keeping not only the UK safe but keeping our allies safe.
"Because if we don't support Ukraine and if they don't win, Russia won't stop there."
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In the US, Sir Keir will tell the 75th anniversary Nato meeting that he is determined to face down our adversaries.
The PM is set to say at the summit — his first overseas trip in office — that stepping up spending will safeguard the alliance.
Sir Keir said: “There is no more important duty for me as Prime Minister than keeping the people of our country safe.
“At a time when we face multiple threats at home and abroad, we must make sure we are ready to defend ourselves.
“That’s why I have immediately ordered a root-and-branch review that will secure Britain’s defences for the future.
"Working with our most important partners around the world, our Strategic Defence Review will make sure the UK is sending a clear message to those who seek to undermine peace and democracy: You will not succeed.”
The PM will make clear to fellow leaders that he is determined to make sure the UK is a “leading defence player” on the world stage — highlighting that western allies will “triumph over tyranny”.
But pressure to hit the 2.5 per cent target has mounted since Russia bombed a Ukrainian children’s hospital on Monday.
Pressed on the matter by reporters on the plane to DC, Sir Keir said: “We are committed to the 2.5 per cent, as I have said before the election and I say again after the election.
"That is obviously subject to our fiscal rules, but the commitment is there.
“The strategic review will take place, that will happen next week, and we will set out the details of that.
"The manifesto commitment was that it would take place within a year, I would like it to be quicker than that if I’m honest and we’ll set out the details about how we are going to do it.”
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Admiral Lord West, a former head of the navy and previous Labour security minister, said: “There is no doubt we have got hollowed out forces.
"There are severe doubts on whether the armed forces are capable of doing what is expected of them by the nation and we need to spend some money urgently."
Starmer could boost Armed Forces
By Harry Goodwin
Prime Minister Keir Starmer said last night that the UK has a "cast iron" commitment to spending 2.5% of GDP on defence.
He said ramping up defence spending could help Nato respond to threats around the world.
Sir Keir will launch the new government's Strategic Defence Review next week.
The review will consider how Britain's Armed Forces should change to tackle threats like Russia's invasion of Ukraine.
It could open the door to a boost in the size of the Armed Forces, insiders told the Telegraph.
But Sir Keir refused to put a timeline on when Britain will hit the 2.5% goal.