Starmer’s parting gift lays a trap for Burnham and sets up a showdown with Trump

July 1, 2026 — 9:39am

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London: Britain is exposed to a new fight with Donald Trump over the US president’s demand for higher spending on defence – and it could not come at a worse time.

The likely clash is revealed in a UK blueprint that appears to miss a key target agreed with Trump and other NATO leaders a year ago, even though it outlines £15 billion ($29 billion) in new spending on defence over the next four years.

British Prime Minister Keir Starmer issued the plan on Tuesday in London with a pledge that it would help the country fend off “bullies and dictators”, such as Russian President Vladimir Putin.

The document features important statements about the UK’s work with Australia on missiles, underwater drones and the new fleet of AUKUS submarines.

But the grand vision falls short of Trump’s demand last year that NATO allies spend 3.5 per cent of their economic output on defence by 2035. It seems to approach about 3 per cent instead, and the shortfall is more than a rounding error.

The document, known as the defence investment plan, was meant to come out last year but was stuck in the destructive vortex of the ruling Labour Party when it was fighting over its policies, its budget and its leadership.

This means there are grave doubts about whether Britain is doing enough to defend itself at a time when Putin presents such a threat to Europe.

The former defence minister, John Healey, who quit the cabinet last month in a dispute over funding the new plan, said on Tuesday that the funding was not........

© WA Today