In his upcoming speech at the National Cyber Security Centre in London, UK Foreign Secretary David Cameron is set to call on NATO partners to increase defense spending to 2.5 percent of GDP.
According to excerpts released by the foreign ministry, Cameron will emphasize the need for a more robust approach to Western foreign policy, especially in the face of emerging threats from countries like Russia and Iran.
“We are in a battle of wills. We all must prove our adversaries wrong — Britain, and our allies and partners around the world,” Cameron will stress during his address.
The former UK prime minister will advocate for NATO countries to surpass the current two percent defense spending target established a decade ago.
Cameron will urge NATO allies to “out-compete, out-cooperate, and out-innovate” their adversaries in order to safeguard their interests effectively.
He will highlight the importance of fulfilling the commitment made in 2014 in Wales to allocate two percent of GDP to defense and propose that 2.5 percent should be the new benchmark for all NATO members.
Building on UK leader Rishi Sunak’s recent announcement to gradually increase defense spending to 2.5 percent of GDP by 2030, Cameron will underscore the necessity of investing in alliances such as the G7 and the Five Eyes intelligence-sharing network.
Additionally, he will stress the importance of forming new partnerships, such as the AUKUS alliance with the US and Australia in the post-Brexit era.
“We need to adopt a harder edge for a tougher world. If Putin’s illegal invasion teaches us anything, it must be that doing too little, too late, only spurs an aggressor on,” Cameron will assert. “We need to be tougher and more assertive,” he is expected to add.
Cameron, who assumed the role of foreign secretary last November under Rishi Sunak’s administration, emphasizes the critical need for NATO allies to enhance their defense capabilities to effectively counter evolving global challenges.
