In brief
The U.K. government announced that twelve NATO members will spend over £37 bn between 2026 and 2036 on the Deep Precision Strike long‑range missile to enhance European security. The system is capable of striking targets 200‑300 km away with pinpoint accuracy, and may reach 1 250 km. Sir Keir Starmer and Foreign Secretary Yvette Cooper framed the initiative as a way of uniting European allies against a resurgent Russian threat, a view echoed by NATO’s broader 2035 defence spending targets.
Twelve NATO members, including the UK, will spend more than £37 bn ($50 bn) over ten years on the Deep Precision Strike project.
The U.K. government outlined the plans late on Tuesday, ahead of the NATO summit in Ankara on Wednesday, in which the prime minister will lead discussions on the new advanced missile system.
The Deep Precision Strike missile is designed to hit targets 200 miles (300 km) away with pinpoint accuracy, and could be extended up to 1 250 miles (2 000 km). It is intended to act as a shield against a resurgent Russian threat, enabling European allies to strike high‑value targets deep in enemy territory.
Sir Keir Starmer said the initiative would “help bring European allies together to keep NATO safe for years to come,” while Foreign Secretary Yvette Cooper described it as a response to “a more dangerous world.”
The programme will not be ready until the 2030s and will rely on a £300 bn defence investment plan adopted by the UK for 2030. Trump’s own administration is calling on members to raise defence spending to 5 % of GDP by 2035.
At the summit, Starmer is expected to highlight the threat posed by Russia, noting that U.K. forces intercepted more than 700 Russian aircraft and that Russian activity around UK waters rose 30 % this year.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky urged NATO to deploy air‑defence systems, while Russia’s chief spokesman said new weapons would not deter its war drive.
The announced funding marks a key milestone in NATO’s quest to strengthen European security and avoid the lingering threat of a large‑scale conflict on the continent.
