STORY
The United Kingdom is to lead a European initiative under which 12 countries are expected to spend more than $50 billion, equivalent to about £37 billion, on long-range precision weapons over the next decade. Prime Minister Keir Starmer announced the plan as NATO leaders met in Ankara for talks on defence spending and European security.
The Government said the programme would develop weapons capable of striking targets at distances of at least 300 kilometres, with some systems expected to operate beyond 2,000 kilometres. Britain has already committed £3 billion to its own deep precision strike capabilities by 2030 under the Defence Investment Plan.
Starmer said European allies needed to take greater responsibility for the continent’s defence while maintaining the transatlantic alliance. The Government said closer industrial co-operation would allow participating countries to share technology, expertise and production capacity while strengthening NATO’s ability to deter attacks.