The British government said Sunday that discussions over future defense spending remain ongoing after the resignation of former Defense Secretary John Healey intensified pressure on Prime Minister Keir Starmer to increase military investment ahead of next month’s NATO summit.
Healey resigned on Thursday following a dispute over the government’s proposed Defense Investment Plan, arguing that the spending package under consideration would not provide the Armed Forces with sufficient resources to meet growing security challenges. His departure marked a significant setback for Starmer, as Healey was widely regarded as one of the government’s most respected voices on defense policy and enjoyed strong credibility within the military establishment.
The disagreement centered on how much Britain should allocate to defense over the coming years. Starmer had spent months weighing options to finance the long-term investment strategy before settling on a spending framework that Healey publicly rejected as inadequate for safeguarding national security.
Newly appointed Defense Secretary Dan Jarvis has pledged to secure the funding needed for Britain’s military, telling the Sunday Telegraph that the government must “meet the moment” as geopolitical tensions continue to reshape Europe’s security landscape.
Culture Secretary Lisa Nandy confirmed that negotiations are continuing across government departments as ministers seek additional resources to support higher defense expenditure. She said departments are reviewing their budgets while Jarvis consults with Treasury officials and the prime minister on revisions to the draft Defense Investment Plan.
“I’m having discussions with my own officials in my own department about the amount of funding that we make available,” Nandy told the BBC on Sunday, adding that talks between Jarvis, Finance Minister Rachel Reeves and Starmer remain active.
Starmer has committed to publishing the finalized defense spending strategy before the NATO summit in Ankara next month, where alliance members are expected to face renewed pressure to strengthen military capabilities amid heightened global security risks.
Healey argued that the draft plan would raise Britain’s defense spending to only 2.68% of gross domestic product by 2030, only marginally above the projected 2.6% level expected next year. He contrasted that trajectory with Germany’s plans to increase defense expenditure to 3.7% of GDP by the end of the decade, warning that Britain risks falling behind key European allies unless additional funding is secured.
The debate comes as NATO members continue reassessing defense priorities in response to evolving geopolitical tensions, placing increasing pressure on governments to balance fiscal constraints with growing military commitments.
