Britain to cut international aid to boost defence spending - Starmer

The UK will reduce the amount of aid it provides to other countries from 2027 to 0.3% from the current 0.5% of GDP to increase defense spending. This was announced by the Prime Minister of the United Kingdom, Keir Starmer , speaking in the House of Commons of the British Parliament.

“I want to make it clear to Parliament that this is not a statement I make happily,” Starmer said, acknowledging that the government has “extremely difficult and painful decisions to make.”

In 2021, the UK cut its international aid from 0.7% of GDP, in line with the UN target set in 1970, to 0.5% of GDP. It was said to be a temporary measure, but spending has not returned to its previous level.