British Prime Minister Keir Starmer has assured NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte that the government will publish its long-awaited defence investment plan before the alliance's summit in Ankara next month, a commitment that comes in the wake of two ministerial resignations over the pace of military spending. During a phone call on Saturday, Starmer and Rutte agreed on the need for allies to strengthen collective defence and respond more swiftly to evolving threats, with the NATO chief welcoming Britain's increased investment as a vital contribution to the alliance. The plan, which Starmer has pledged to raise defence spending to 3% of GDP, is seen as a critical test of his leadership amid growing political pressure.

The resignations of Defence Secretary John Healey and minister Al Cairns this week have cast a shadow over Starmer's defence agenda. In a stinging resignation letter, Healey accused the prime minister of making the country less safe by failing to make the financial commitments needed to counter the threat of Russian aggression. Both ministers had seen the delayed defence plan, which remains unpublished, and their departures have intensified scrutiny on Starmer's ability to deliver on security promises. From London, analysts note that the resignations underscore deep unease within the government about the adequacy of current spending levels, particularly as the war in Ukraine continues to strain European defence budgets.

Viewed from NATO headquarters in Brussels, Starmer's phone call with Rutte was a damage-control effort to reassure allies of Britain's commitment. The Ankara summit, scheduled for July 7-8, will be a key moment for the UK to demonstrate its reliability as a leading NATO contributor. Observers in Washington point out that the United States has long pressed European allies to meet the 2% GDP defence spending target, and Britain's pledge to reach 3% positions it as a standard-bearer within the alliance. However, the resignations raise questions about whether Starmer can secure the necessary parliamentary support for such increases, especially given competing domestic priorities.

Looking ahead, the publication of the defence plan before the Ankara summit will be closely watched by allies and adversaries alike. Former Defence Select Committee chair Tobias Ellwood warned that Russian President Vladimir Putin would be monitoring the situation carefully, interpreting any hesitation as a sign of Western weakness. For Starmer, the challenge is to balance fiscal constraints with the urgent need to modernise Britain's armed forces, a task made more pressing by the resignations. The coming weeks will test whether his government can translate promises into concrete action, or whether the defence portfolio will remain a source of political vulnerability.