Browsing: UK defence spending

UK announces plans to buy 12 F-35A fighter jets, reintroducing a nuclear role for the Royal Air Force (RAF) for the first time since the Cold War.

NATO ambassadors agreed to boost defence spending and related spending, rising from the longstanding 2 % target to a combined 5 % of GDP by 2035, ahead of next week’s Hague summit.

Most of the newspapers react to the government’s Defence Secretary Review plans, announced by the prime minister yesterday. The UK is set to spend an extra £2bn on drones and AI in a bid to make the country “battle ready” – but some papers (right-leaning Conservatives) warn that a tax rise will likely be on the way to pay for it. New submarines are set to be built in what some papers suggest is a warning to Russia, and the review lays out plans to recruit more people for the army, with a paid stint in the military for school leavers being considered.

AI is dominating the UK newspaper front pages this morning after the prime minister announced his defence strategy yesterday. Prime Minister Keir Starmer has laid out plans to grow the British Army as he vows to put the country on a war footing and be prepared for Russian threats. 

This week’s news kicks off with big announcements from the UK government regarding defence spending, commentary around illegal crossings of the English Channel as the number of those crossing in a single day rises and of course a lot of chatter about the sunshine!

Most of Monday’s newspapers lead with the prime minister’s strategic defence review, which is set to be released later today. The papers have a preview of what is likely to be in the review – which will outline the government’s priorities for military and spending in the coming years.

Good morning! ☕ Let’s grab a coffee and dive into the headlines for Monday, 2nd June 2025. The sun is shining over the capital this morning, so let’s soak up the rays while catching up on the latest news.
Much of the news dominating the UK headlines focuses on international events, however, there are a handful of UK-focused stories – mostly around the UK’s defence spending and plans set to be announced later today in the Strategic Defence Review.

The UK will build up to 12 new conventionally armed, nuclear-powered attack submarines, as part of a sweeping Strategic Defence Review to be announced on Monday by Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer. The submarines will begin replacing the current fleet from the late 2030s and are designed to safeguard Britain and its NATO allies for decades to come.

The UK government plans to establish at least six new weapons factories as part of a £6bn rearmament initiative to bolster its defence capabilities amid rising threats, particularly from Russia.