Labour to urge Nato members to up defence spending to 2.5pc of GDP

Labour will use this week’s Nato summit to urge other countries to increase their defence spending to 2.5 per cent of GDP, David Lammy and John Healey have said.

In a joint article for The Telegraph, the foreign and defence secretaries said that under Labour, Britain would reach that threshold “as soon as possible”.

They said they would be arguing that “all Nato allies should adopt this as a new defence target”.

Nato members have a target to spend 2 per cent of GDP on defence.

Last year, just 11 of the alliance’s 32 members, including the UK, reached the target.

It follows criticism from the Conservatives that Sir Keir Starmer has not put a date on when he will meet the target. Rishi Sunak had promised to do so by 2030.

The Nato summit in Washington will be the new Prime Minister’s first appearance on the world stage.

Accompanied by his foreign and defence secretaries he will seek to reassure other members of the alliance that, despite the change of government, Britain’s backing for Nato is as strong as ever.

The Biden administration announced on Monday night that the president will host the Prime Minister for a bilateral meeting during the summit at the White House.

In their article, Mr Lammy and Mr Healey say that Labour will have a “Nato first” defence strategy, because: “We must stand together and stand up for what’s right.”

They write: “Our government’s commitment to Nato is therefore unshakeable. We will have a ‘Nato first’ defence strategy.

“European security will be our foreign and defence priority. Our commitment to Britain’s nuclear deterrent is absolute.

“We will increase spending to 2.5 per cent of GDP on defence as soon as possible, whilst arguing all Nato allies should adopt this as a new defence target.

“And we will launch a Strategic Defence Review, so we are fighting fit to defend against any adversary.”

The pair said they wanted to emulate Ernest Bevin, the former Labour foreign secretary, who “had the vision and determination to bring twelve nations from Western Europe and North America together to create the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation”.

Russia is the ‘foremost adversary’

They said that on the 75th anniversary of the alliance, the foremost adversary was Russia.

“We must strengthen our defences to deter Putin effectively,” they write. “And we must reinvigorate our support for the brave people of Ukraine, as they defend their freedom against Vladimir Putin’s new form of fascism.

“Our generation faces a darkening global landscape. Those who believe in freedom and international law must stand together, stand for what’s right – just as Bevin did seventy-five years ago.”

The pair added: “As we, alongside Keir Starmer, look to reconnect Britain on the world stage, we will be fully committed to strengthening other alliances that enhance British security in this increasingly insecure world.

“We will ensure AUKUS, the trilateral security partnership with Australia and the United States, fully delivers its potential.

“Our generation faces a darkening global landscape. Those who believe in freedom and international law must stand together, stand for what’s right – just as Bevin did seventy-five years ago.

“This requires a strong and reconnected Britain. Under our Government, Britain will be confident in our purpose, clear-eyed about the challenges and determined to invest in our collective strength. A formidable and reliable ally and partner. A country building the foundations of an era of renewal. The spirit of Bevin will live on in this new government.”

Sir Keir has so far refused to back Mr Sunak’s pledge before the election to meet the target by 2030, saying instead that spending would increase only when his fiscal rules were met.

The Prime Minister will also use his meetings to underline his commitment to the nuclear deterrent and the war in Ukraine.

In his first press conference as Prime Minister on Saturday, Sir Keir said: “It is for me to be absolutely clear that the first duty of my government is security and defence, to make clear our unshakeable support of Nato.”

This stance is in sharp contrast to that of Jeremy Corbyn, his predecessor as Labour leader.

Although Labour never officially dropped its commitment to Nato during his time in office, the US was concerned that if Mr Corbyn became prime minister, Britain would no longer give such steadfast support to the alliance.