LONDON (AP) 鈥� U.K. Defense Secretary John Healey unexpectedly quit on Thursday, saying the government is unwilling to spend enough on the military at a time of 鈥渞ising threats.鈥� The resignation dealt another blow to embattled , who is already facing demands from Labour colleagues to step down.
Healey told Starmer in a letter that the government鈥檚 Defense Investment Plan falls 鈥渨ell short of what is required at this dangerous time.鈥�
Publication of the plan has been delayed amid reports of disagreement between the defense ministry and the Treasury.
Critics say defense spending boost is too little, too late
Starmer has pledged to boost U.K. defense spending to 2.5% of gross domestic product by 2027 and 3% by 2035. But many in the military say that isn’t fast enough.
鈥淵ou have been unable, and the Treasury has been unwilling, to commit the resources that the nation needs to defend the country at this time of rising threats,鈥� Healey wrote in his resignation letter.
He said that the spending plan put forward by the Treasury, and presented to him on Monday, would see defense spending rise to just 2.68% in 2030, after hitting 2.6% next year.
Healey said that isn’t enough with growing demands on defense and British military commitments, citing , Russia’s all-out and threats from Moscow.
“I am now left with no other option than to submit my resignation,” he said.
Kevin Rowlands, of Royal United Services Institute, a defense think tank, said Healey’s decision sends a sobering message.
鈥淗ealey knows the threats we face, he knows the capabilities and shortfalls the armed forces have, and if he believes that the financial settlement is not enough to keep the country safe 鈥� to the extent that he cannot honorably stay in post 鈥� then we are in trouble,” he said.
The government said it was delivering 鈥渢he largest sustained boost to defense spending since the Cold War.鈥�
鈥淭his country is safer because of the decisions Keir Starmer has made and we will continue to act in our national interest,” it said in a statement.
Healey is considered a safe pair of hands
Healey has been U.K. defense secretary since the Labour Party government was elected in July 2024, and he’s regarded as a capable and serious minister.
He has played a key role in bolstering international support for Ukraine and assembling a to help guarantee security if a ceasefire is reached. Healey also has helped spearhead a maritime security force that would help keep the Strait of Hormuz open to shipping if the Iran war ends.
The United Kingdom and other NATO member nations have faced pressure from U.S. President to increase military spending. Trump has long of the military alliance and complained that the United States provides security to European countries that don鈥檛 pull their weight.
The U.K. military is also seeking to reverse years of decline in the face of an increasingly assertive Russia, which fully invaded its neighbor Ukraine on Feb. 24, 2022, and increasingly tests the defenses of European nations with overt and covert activity.
NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte, informed of Healey’s resignation by The Associated Press during a news conference in Brussels, said that Healey is someone 鈥淚 respect very much.鈥�
鈥淲hat we are seeing all over the alliance is countries increasing their defense investments, and of course it is not easy, because in the end there is always a trade-off with other expenses, which are also important,” Rutte said.
Healey鈥檚 resignation is likely to further stoke talk that Starmer鈥檚 days as prime minister are numbered. Already bruised by a series of missteps since Labour returned to power less than two years ago, Starmer has faced calls within his party鈥檚 ranks to stand down.
In a sign of his waning authority, Starmer appears to have been unable to bridge the gap between Healey鈥檚 department and Treasury chief Rachel Reeves over defense spending.
Olivia O鈥橲ullivan, head of the U.K. in the World program at the Chatham House think tanl, said the resignation 鈥渟ignificantly undermines Starmer,鈥� especially since the prime minister has had 鈥渁 relatively assured track record on defense and foreign affairs.鈥�
Greater Manchester Mayor is widely expected to challenge Starmer for the leadership, if he returns to Parliament in a June 18 special election.
Justin Crump, a former British tank commander who heads security consultancy Sibylline, said Healey’s resignation 鈥渟hould not have been allowed to occur in a well-run government.鈥�
鈥淚t just further underlines a lack of control here, a lack of clarity, a lack of resolution, a gap between words and delivery,鈥� he said.
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Associated Press journalists Mark Carlson in Brussels and Pan Pylas in London contributed to this report.
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