As Donald Trump prepares for his return to 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue, the ripple effects are already being felt across the pond. Senior defence figures in the UK are now scrambling to position Britain as a steadfast military ally, hoping to curry favor with the incoming Republican president.
Leading the charge is Lord Alan West, the former First Sea Lord and one-time Labour security minister. In the wake of Trump’s victory, West is urging Labour leader Keir Starmer to view it as “an opportunity” to demonstrate the UK’s commitment to its armed forces.
An Plea for More Pounds for Defence
West’s message is blunt: It’s time for Britain to “bite the bullet” and ramp up defence spending to 3% of GDP. This would be a significant jump from the 2.5% target that Starmer has previously pledged to meet when economic conditions allow.
The admiral argues that such a bold move would send a clear signal to Washington. “We could show we’re going to move straight towards 3% because we want to show everyone the way,” West declared. “This would be a big tick in the box, Trump would be on side, and there will be lots of benefits.”
A Strategic Defence Review in the Shadow of Trump
West’s intervention comes as the Ministry of Defence undertakes a strategic review of Britain’s military capabilities, with the findings due to be reported next spring. But there are already concerns that without an immediate cash injection, a coherent plan may not be in place before next summer.
According to Prof Malcolm Chalmers, deputy director general of the Royal United Services Institute, there is a case for the Treasury to reopen the defence settlement for the current year and next, especially given the “new circumstances created by Trump’s election.”
Reassurances and Reality Checks
In the wake of Trump’s victory, Prime Minister Starmer was quick to reassure Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy that British support in the war against Russia remained “iron clad.” Yet as Chalmers notes, if the defence budget fails to reach 2.5% by the end of the decade, “the squeeze on defence capabilities will be quite significant.”
West acknowledges the challenges of boosting military spending in a constrained fiscal environment, but insists that “unpleasant and horrible” cuts must be made elsewhere. “Defence of our nation and our people is the highest priority of any government,” he maintained.
The Spectre of Shortfalls
Looming over these deliberations is a £17bn black hole in the budget for new weapons and equipment over the next 10 years, as identified by the National Audit Office. Without addressing this shortfall, any talk of increased spending may be moot.
As Starmer and his Chancellor Rachel Reeves grapple with competing demands on the public purse, the pressure to shore up Britain’s military clout is only intensifying. With Trump poised to reshape the geopolitical landscape once more, the UK’s strategic soul-searching has taken on a new urgency.
In the coming months, all eyes will be on Starmer to see if he heeds the drumbeat of voices like Lord West, and bets big on defence in the age of Trump 2.0. The future of Britain’s place on the world stage may well hang in the balance.
