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UK MoD Delays Defence Plan, Nuclear Spending Soars

6/7/2026

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Summary

MoD Delays Plan

The UK Ministry of Defence delayed its Defence Investment Plan, which Public Accounts Committee says no strategy and raises costs, harming credibility.
The plan, promised for 2025 and before the NATO summit on 7 July 2026, remains unfinished as contractors raise prices.
Nuclear spending now equals 18 % (£10.9 billion) of the budget and could rise to 25 %.
The MoD aims for spending of 2.5 % of GDP by 2027, rising to 3 %.

Summary

Knighton warns

Chief of the Defence Staff Richard Knighton warned that Russia is raising the stakes and Britain must accelerate defence spending for war-fighting readiness.
Military analysts cite a £28 billion funding gap to 2030, while the government offers only £15-18 billion.
U.S. President Donald Trump, at the NATO summit on 7-8 July in Ankara, urged European leaders to raise defence spending and rely less on Washington.

History

Historical Context

At the 2014 Wales NATO summit the alliance pledged members would reach a defence spend of at least 2 % of GDP by 2024. Britain’s Defence Secretary Grant Shapps and Chief of Staff Richard Knighton warn that Russia’s aggression and a £28 billion shortfall threaten the UK’s 2026 target, even as NATO records 23 of 32 members meeting the 2 % benchmark in 2024.

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MoD Delays Plan

The UK Ministry of Defence delayed its Defence Investment Plan, which Public Accounts Committee says no strategy and raises costs, harming credibility.
The plan, promised for 2025 and before the NATO summit on 7 July 2026, remains unfinished as contractors raise prices.
Nuclear spending now equals 18 % (£10.9 billion) of the budget and could rise to 25 %.
The MoD aims for spending of 2.5 % of GDP by 2027, rising to 3 %.

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