UK to Invest Nearly £300 Billion in Defence Under New 10-Year Modernisation Plan

The announcement came as Starmer launched the government’s long-awaited 10-year Defence Investment Plan, outlining an additional £15 billion in defence funding that will raise the UK’s overall military budget to almost £300 billion during the next four years.

Starmer, who is expected to leave office next month after losing the support of Labour MPs, said the increase reflects the changing international security environment and the need for Britain to strengthen its defence capabilities.

Speaking during the launch of the plan, Starmer said the government had already shifted spending priorities by redirecting funds from overseas aid to defence, resulting in what he described as the largest increase in military spending since the end of the Cold War.

He said the latest package builds on that decision by committing a further £15 billion through changes in government spending priorities.

“Last year I made the decision in the national interest to reprioritise aid spending toward defence and achieved the biggest uplift in defence spending since the end of the Cold War,” Starmer said.

“The world has changed. National security is economic security,” he added while defending the additional investment.

According to the Ministry of Defence, more than £5 billion from the new package will be allocated to drones and autonomous military systems over the next four years. The funding will support the development and acquisition of advanced technologies that are becoming increasingly important in modern warfare.

The investment plan follows months of disagreements within Starmer’s Labour government over the scale of defence spending required to modernise Britain’s armed forces.

The debate resulted in the resignation of two defence ministers earlier this month. Among them was Defence Secretary John Healey, who argued that previous spending proposals would leave the country “less safe” at a time of heightened international tensions.

British officials have cited growing security concerns, including Russia’s military activities and wider geopolitical instability, as reasons for expanding defence investment.

The announcement also comes as the United States continues pressing European allies to increase military spending. President Donald Trump has repeatedly called on NATO members to contribute more to collective defence and reduce their dependence on US military support.

The new funding is expected to strengthen Britain’s military capabilities through investments in advanced weapons, cyber security, intelligence systems, drones and defence infrastructure. Officials also believe the programme will provide long-term support for the UK’s defence industry and encourage innovation across the sector.

The Defence Investment Plan is set to guide Britain’s military strategy over the next decade as the government seeks to prepare the armed forces for evolving global security challenges.