NATO head Rutte says he welcomes UK's Defence Investment Plan

NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte welcomed Britain's plans to increase defence spending to nearly £80 billion a year by 2029, aligning with the 3% of GDP target.

​NATO Secretary ​General Mark Rutte ‌said on ​Tuesday that he welcomed Britain's ‌plans for increased spending on its defence. British Prime Minister Keir Starmer ‌said on Tuesday that defence spending ‌would increase to nearly £80 billion ($105.85 billion) a year by 2029, putting it ⁠on ​a ⁠path to hit 3% of GDP on ⁠military expenditure.

"I welcome the UK's ​Defence Investment Plan. Stronger UK defence ⁠makes us all safer. This ⁠is ​a good step towards reaching the 3.5% of GDP ⁠on defence agreed in The Hague ⁠last ⁠year," wrote Rutte on X. ($1 = 0.7556 pounds)