The United Kingdom plans to slash aid spending to just 0.3% of national income, claiming the dramatic step is the only way to boost the country’s defense budget to meet the “generational challenge” of Russia’s threat.
U.K. Prime Minister Keir Starmer stunned members of Parliament, or MPs, of his own Labour Party with the announcement that he will shift billions of pounds from development to support a bigger military — despite a manifesto promise to increase aid spending from 0.5% back to 0.7% of gross national income.
Instead, the cut to 0.3% will be made in 2027, when defense spending will rise to 2.5% ahead of a long-term plan to hike the defense budget to 3% — implying the aid budget reduction will last into the next decade.