Nato calls on UK to spend 5% of GDP on defence

THE UK will be expected to spend 5% of its economic output on defence investment, the chief of Nato has said, ahead of a meeting with Sir Keir Starmer next week.

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Mark Rutte, the secretary general of the alliance, said yesterday he is proposing Nato members spend 5% of gross domestic product (GDP) on defence.

Mr Rutte, who will visit the UK next week to meet the Prime Minister, said members will be expected to spend 3.5% on the military, with a further 1.5% on defence-related measures.