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10:02 CRIME

They were selling narcotics, two young men were handcuffed/ 100 doses of cocaine and cannabis were seized

Durrës Police have cracked down on a case of drug sales. ...

Keir Starmer announces increase in defense spending

2026-07-01 08:49:00, Kosova & Bota CNA

British Prime Minister Keir Starmer has hinted at an increase in the country's defense spending. By 2029, the UK will spend 80 billion pounds, or about 92 billion euros, a year on defense. The prime minister said the UK was thus on track to meet its commitment to increase defense spending to 3.5 percent of gross domestic product by 2035.

NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte welcomed the announcement. "Strengthening the UK's defence makes us all stronger," Rutte said. It is a step in the right direction towards the 3.5 percent of gross domestic product (GDP) target agreed last year in The Hague.

NATO heads of state and government agreed last year to invest 5 percent of gross domestic product in defense and security each year, starting in 2035 at the latest. Of this percentage, 3.5 percent must be spent on purely military spending.

Under pressure from his own party, Starmer announced his resignation a week ago. He intends to stay in office until his party has named a successor. His rival within the party, Andy Burnham, is expected to take over the role. However, it is not yet clear whether he will also endorse Starmer's defence plans. Starmer has said that a future government could be "based" on this plan.

NATO summit in July

Earlier this month, Britain's Defence Secretary, John Healey, resigned over a dispute over the defence budget. In his resignation letter to Starmer, Healey wrote that the government's investment plan fell "far short of what is needed in these dangerous times". Without a budget to match the challenges, "I am forced to make decisions that will reduce the operational capability of our armed forces, increase the risks to personnel on the mission and make the country less safe".

Starmer's announcement comes just before the NATO summit in Turkey. Heads of state and government will gather in Ankara on July 7 for the summit. This could be Starmer's last international appearance. Burnham is currently the only candidate to replace the British Prime Minister, and he could take office as early as July./DW