The UK government will lead a coalition of around a dozen European countries to step up funding for the next generation of long-range missiles designed to protect Europe, the UK government said on Wednesday.
Prime Minister Keir Starmer was set to unveil details of the program at the NATO summit in Ankara. The premier would “convene around a dozen European partners at the summit today to launch the new initiative, which is expected to announce that allies will spend $50 billion over the next 10 years to develop deep precision strike capabilities to bolster defense and deterrence across the alliance”, his Downing Street office said in a statement.
The investment would “deliver the most advanced weapons NATO will have at its disposal in the future — with the ability to strike targets no less than 300 kilometers (186 miles) away and in some cases beyond 2,000 km, with pinpoint accuracy”, it added.
Starmer on Wednesday urged leaders to “show the unity and the strength of NATO” against a background of the Ukraine conflict and the US war with Iran. “We must continue to work together as allies to develop the capability of the future to bolster security and protect growth at home,” he added in a statement.
Meanwhile, Washington remains completely committed to NATO, despite concerns about US President Donald Trump’s willingness to protect allies, the military alliance’s secretary general said Wednesday at the opening of a key summit.
“There is complete commitment of the United States to NATO.. But hey, there’s also an expectation.. that the Europeans and the Canadians will equalize their spending with the United States.. Which I think.. is completely fair,” Mark Rutte told journalists.
The summit comes at a fraught time for the 77-year-old transatlantic alliance, with US President Donald Trump lashing out at allies as Washington
steps back from Europe.
The second day of the tense summit in the Turkish capital saw Trump pose for the traditional family photo of 32 NATO leaders, before taking part in a
working session and holding a highly anticipated meeting with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky. (AFP)
