UK Defense Secretary John Healey has resigned due to disagreements with Prime Minister Keir Starmer’s government over military spending. The resignation comes just weeks before a crucial NATO summit, where President Donald Trump will be in attendance.

Disagreements Over Defense Spending

Healey’s departure stems from a dispute over the delayed Defense Investment Plan (DIP), which outlines the government’s plan for military investment and readiness. Healey had been in intense negotiations with Starmer and Chancellor of the Exchequer Rachel Reeves over the scale and timelines of the DIP.

Starmer reportedly refused to commit to a timeline to reach 3.5% of gross domestic product (GDP) on defense by 2035, a promise he made to Trump at last year’s NATO summit. Instead, Starmer offered Healey a deal to spend 2.68% of GDP on defense by 2030, a marginal increase from 2.6% next year.

Healey wrote in his resignation letter that the financial constraints would ‘make the country less safe.’ The resignation is seen as a significant blow to Starmer’s government, particularly with the NATO summit looming.

International Implications

The resignation is expected to have international implications, particularly with the US pushing for European allies to increase their defense spending. Trump has frequently criticized NATO alliance members as ‘free riders.’ The US has made it clear that patience is wearing thin, with US Ambassador to NATO Matthew Whitaker stating that allies must fulfill their commitment to spending 5% of GDP on defense.

Original reporting: Fox News (HLL/CB) — read the source article.