Lord Robertson, the former NATO secretary-general, has criticized the UK government over defence spending levels. BBC Verify examined claims about the state of Britain's military budget and readiness.
The UK currently spends around 2.5% of GDP on defence, exceeding NATO's minimum 2% threshold that member states committed to at the 2024 summit. This places Britain among Europe's higher defence spenders, though below the US spending rate of approximately 3.5% of GDP.
The defence budget has fluctuated in recent years. Under the previous Conservative government, spending increased from roughly £36 billion annually in 2015 to approximately £50 billion by 2024. The current Labour government committed to reaching 2.5% by 2025, marking a shift toward sustained higher defence investment.
Robertson's criticism centers on concerns that spending levels, while meeting NATO targets, may not adequately address evolving threats from Russia, China, and regional instability. Defence analysts note the UK faces competing pressures. Military personnel shortages persist across the armed forces, equipment modernization remains costly, and ageing infrastructure demands investment.
The broader European context matters. Germany and France maintain comparable or higher defence spending ratios. Poland and the Baltic states, alarmed by Russian activity, have dramatically increased defence budgets. NATO's collective shift toward 2% minimum spending reflects post-2022 security concerns following Russia's invasion of Ukraine.
The debate reflects tension between meeting NATO commitments and addressing perceived capability gaps. Critics argue that spending levels alone don't guarantee military effectiveness without proper recruitment, training, and equipment procurement. The government faces pressure to demonstrate that increased defence investment translates into tangible military capacity rather than simply meeting numerical targets.