George Robertson Critiques UK Defence Investment Plan
George Robertson, the former NATO general secretary who led the UK government's defence review, has expressed strong criticism of Prime Minister Keir Starmer's defence investment plan (Dip), describing it as inadequate and delayed. Speaking to MPs on Tuesday, Robertson warned that the plan fails to address the scale of the challenges currently facing the UK.
Lord Robertson highlighted that the Dip has undermined confidence within the defence industry and among the UK’s NATO allies, who are convening in Ankara this week for the NATO summit. His remarks contribute to the widespread criticism of the Dip, which was published after nearly a year’s delay and shortly following the appointment of former defence secretary John Healey.
Concerns Over Timing and Scale of Defence Challenges
During his appearance before the defence select committee, Robertson stated:
“We built this strategic defence review based on an assessment of 10 years. That was our assessment at the time for when a peer opponent might challenge the United Kingdom.
“That clearly has now been accelerated, and quite simply we’re running out of years, and the reality is that the challenge is now bigger, more serious, and earlier than we had anticipated, and yet the defence investment plan itself doesn’t come up to it.”
He further noted that defence companies would likely be disappointed by the plan, adding:
“Some companies will have gone bust in the process as they waited for the degree of certainty that was required in our view.”
Diplomatic Implications at NATO Summit
As Prime Minister Starmer travels to Turkey for his final foreign trip before the next UK leadership transition, Robertson warned that he might encounter a cool reception from allies. He commented:
“The prime minister is in Ankara today at the NATO summit and he’ll be sitting tomorrow morning beside President Trump in alphabetical order around the North Atlantic Council table, and I think relations may well be quite frosty.
“The allies round the table who are all stepping up to the mark, and who are all now spending more on defence, and of course some of the bigger countries, like Germany and Poland, are spending considerably more than we are spending.”
Starmer is expected to arrive in Ankara on Tuesday afternoon, presenting what he hopes will be regarded as a credible plan for increasing UK military spending. However, the delays in releasing the Dip and ongoing debates about the level of government spending have overshadowed what the prime minister intended as a key part of his legacy.
Funding Challenges and Future Leadership
Although the government stated that Robertson’s defence review last year was fully funded, military leaders subsequently requested an additional £28 billion to implement it. The Treasury agreed to provide an extra £15 billion, of which £4.7 billion remains unallocated. This unresolved funding gap presents a potential challenge for the next prime minister, anticipated to be Andy Burnham.
Government officials and defence leaders have also criticized the plan for lacking a specific deadline for the UK to reach the target of spending 3.5% of its gross domestic product (GDP) on defence. Other NATO countries have been more explicit in setting such targets.
NATO’s Call for Clear Defence Spending Plans
On Monday, NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg urged member states to submit “clear, concrete and credible plans” to meet the alliance’s defence spending goals. Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte emphasized the urgency of the matter, stating:
“President Trump fully expects that all allies will step up immediately and get on the path to 5% and do it with urgency.”
