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Defence: Finance

Asked by Mike WoodConservativeCabinet OfficeTabled Answered 29 June 2026UIN 10654

The question

To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, pursuant to the answer of 2 June 2026, to Question 3895, on National Security: Finance, whether there are additional NATO (a) definitions and (b) guidance on applicable spend within the 1.5% of GDP for the UK to follow other than the definition of the 1.5% of GDP cited in his answer.

Answered by Dame Angela Eagle

At the NATO Summit in June 2025, Allies made a commitment to investing 5% of GDP annually on core defence requirements and defence and security related spending by 2035.

NATO defines defence and security related spending as, ‘inter alia’, spending to protect our critical infrastructure, defend our networks, ensure our civil preparedness and resilience, unleash innovation and strengthen our defence industrial base. The UK Government is using this definition to determine eligible spend.

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