The decision to hike UK defence spending has been “accelerated” by President Donald Trump’s actions on Ukraine, a former defence chief of staff has said. Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer announced the UK would reallocate aid funds to boost military spending to 2.5% by 2027, following Trump’s demand that all European allies increase their defence contributions. Defence Secretary John Healey defended the decision, saying “hard power is now more important than soft power”, despite an outcry from charities and aid groups. General Sir David Richards, a former chief of defence staff, said the decision to raise defence spending over the next two years was a sound strategic move, but one that “almost certainly would not” be happening if not for Trump.
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