Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer has proposed increasing the UK’s defence spending to 2.5% of GDP by 2027, funded by cuts to the international aid budget.

While opposition parties support the move, charities have condemned the aid reductions, calling it a “betrayal.”

The UK’s aid budget would decrease from 0.5% to 0.3% of GDP by 2027 to fund the £13.4bn yearly boost in defence.

The plan comes ahead of a meeting with US President Trump, who has urged European countries to increase defence spending.

Starmer also aims to reach 3% of GDP on defence post-2027, the BBC has reported.

However, the cuts have sparked criticism, with concerns about the impact on vulnerable populations.

Written by B.C. Begley