# UK Government Targets 3% Defense Spending by 2030

> Chancellor John Healey pledges 3% GDP defense spending by 2030 but faces criticism over fiscal sustainability.
- Title: UK Government Targets 3% Defense Spending by 2030 · MercoPress
- Summary: Chancellor John Healey pledges 3% GDP defense spending by 2030 but faces criticism over fiscal sustainability.
- Keywords: uk government, defense spending, chancellor john healey, nato, fiscal sustainability, defense investment plan, 3% gdp, 2030 target, public spending cuts, military safety, MercoPress
- Source: MercoPress — https://en.mercopress.com/2026/10/29/uk-government-aims-to-spend-3-of-gdp-on-defense-by-2030-chancellor-says-but-not-everyone-s-convinced
- Read time: 1 min
- Topics: uk government, defense spending, chancellor john healey, nato, fiscal sustainability, defense investment plan, 3% gdp, 2030 target, public spending cuts, military safety, news, world
## Chancellor's Defense Spending Target
Chancellor John Healey announced the UK Government will aim to spend 3% of economic output on defense by 2030.
## Fiscal Plan for Target
Work is underway to reach the 3% target by 2030 and the NATO commitment to spend 3.5% of GDP by 2035 in a fiscally sustainable way.
## Previous Commitment
Mr. Healey's target of 3% by 2030 would fulfill a threshold he thought would be missed under Sir Keir Starmer's premiership.
## Supporting Voices
Nato Secretary General Mark Rutte, Defense Secretary Wes Streeting, and Lord Robertson of Port Ellen welcomed the announcement.
## Criticism from Kemi Badenoch
Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch criticized the plan as a 'plan to have a plan' and warned it makes troops unsafe.
## Budget Details
Reaching the 3% target by 2030 is estimated to cost an extra £17.3bn in 2029-30 and may require public spending cuts.
## Defense Investment Plan
The Defense Investment Plan (DIP) promises £4.7bn for defense but only committed £10.3bn, leaving a £1.7bn shortfall.
## Funding Shortfall
Departments will reduce capital budgets by 1% between 2027-28 and 2:029-30 to raise £3bn, with £1.7bn from Treasury contingency.
## Criticism from Ben Wallace
Former defense secretary Sir Ben Wallace warned the plan cuts training and ammunition for military reserves.
## Afghanistan Veteran's View
Afghanistan veteran Mike Martin criticized the delay in defense spending as a waste of time.
## Key takeaway

UK Chancellor John Healey aims to spend 3% of GDP on defense by 2030 but critics argue the plan risks military safety.