Starmer to rally European allies at Nato summit amid concerns over US stance

Lead

Prime Minister Keir Starmer arrived in Ankara on Tuesday for what is expected to be his final Nato summit, aiming to rally European allies and address concerns over the alliance's future amid pressures from US President Donald Trump on defence spending. As reported by several British outlets, the summit comes at a delicate moment for the transatlantic relationship, with Washington urging members to increase their military contributions and European leaders seeking to solidify their own defence cooperation.

Coverage comparison

The BBC highlighted the unveiling of a UK-led missile project, the Deep Precision Strike, as a central theme of the summit, focusing on its potential to enhance European security. The Guardian's coverage placed more emphasis on the diplomatic challenges Starmer faces, including the possibility of criticism from President Trump over the UK's defence spending trajectory, and the broader concerns about the alliance's unity.

All sources reported that the UK has committed to spending 2.7% of GDP on defence by 2027-28, although there is no firm pledge to reach a 3% interim benchmark by the end of the decade. The Guardian also reported that Russian military activity around Nato waters has surged 30% in the past two years, a figure the UK government used to underline the threat from Moscow.

Key Claims

The UK-led Deep Precision Strike project will spend more than £37bn over the next ten years on a new long-range missile designed to protect Europe, as reported by the BBC. The project, which will be discussed at the summit, aims to strike targets nearly 200 miles away with pinpoint accuracy, potentially extending out to 1,250 miles. Starmer described the initiative as a way to "help bring European allies together to keep Nato safe for years to come," according to the BBC.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky used a speech at the summit to urge Ukraine's allies to deliver the air defence systems it urgently needs to protect it from escalating Russian attacks, as reported by the BBC. In response, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said that Russia would closely monitor the summit and that no new weapons Kyiv would get from Nato could prevent Russia from pressing on with its military operation in Ukraine until its objectives were achieved.

On the sidelines of the summit, Starmer said that President Trump had agreed to stay in touch after Starmer steps down from No 10, according to The Guardian. Starmer reported that Trump had thanked him for the UK's contribution to Nato and expressed gratitude for the 'spirit of the meeting.'

The US ambassador to Nato, Matt Whitaker, called for allies who are "lagging behind" on defence spending to step up, as reported by The Guardian. He noted that "some allies are doing more than others" and that "President Trump expects all allies to step up immediately and not only get on a sustainable path to the 5% but to get to 5% as soon as possible."

The UK government has committed £300bn by 2030 in the Defence Investment Plan, according to the BBC. The new defence secretary, Dan Jarvis, has also called on the incoming prime minister, Andy Burnham, to increase defence spending dramatically from 2030 and 'evidence the trajectory' towards the Nato target, as reported by The Guardian.

Perspectives

UK Government: The government rejects claims that the UK is not meeting its Nato commitments, stating that "The UK has always met its Nato spending commitments and remains one of the top defence centres in the alliance," as reported by The Guardian. It insists that defence spending will rise to 2.7% of GDP by 2027-28 and that the UK's contribution to Nato "will not waver."

US President and Ambassador: President Trump has repeatedly called on Nato allies to increase their defence spending, and the US ambassador to Nato has specifically urged allies to "step up" and not only get on a sustainable path to 5% but to "get to 5% as soon as possible." Reports from The Guardian indicate that Starmer believes he swerved criticism over UK contributions after the meeting.

Nato leadership: The alliance members agreed at last year's summit to spend 3.5% of GDP on defence by 2035, and the upcoming summit is focused on "building a stronger and more European Nato," according to Downing Street, as reported by The Guardian.

Russia: Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov, as reported by the BBC, said that Russia will monitor the summit closely, and that new weapons provided by Nato cannot prevent Russia from achieving its objectives in Ukraine.