Donald Trump 'pushes UK to pump billions more into defence spending'

Donald Trump is reportedly pushing Britain to boost defence spending by billions of pounds over the coming years to set an example to other European nations.

The US President is said to want the UK to increase its military budget to 3 per cent of GDP by 2029, which is years earlier than Sir Keir Starmer had been planning.

In February, following Mr Trump's return to the White House, the Prime Minister pledged to increase defence spending to 2.5 per cent of GDP from 2027.

Sir Keir also set an 'ambition' to spend 3 per cent of GDP on the country's Armed Forces in the next parliament, as economic conditions allow.

But, according to The Times, Pentagon chiefs have made it known that Mr Trump would be 'happier' if the UK reached 3 per cent by the end of this parliament in 2029.