Starmer tells NATO's Rutte UK will publish defence plan before summit


British Prime Minister Keir Starmer and NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte depart 10 Downing Street in London, Britain, March 17, 2026. REUTERS/Isabel Infantes

LONDON, June ⁠13 (Reuters) - British Prime Minister Keir ⁠Starmer told NATO Secretary General ‌Mark Rutte on Saturday that he would publish the government's defence investment plan ​ahead of the alliance's ⁠upcoming summit ⁠in Ankara, a Downing Street spokesperson said.

In ⁠a ‌call earlier in the day, Starmer and ⁠Rutte agreed allies must strengthen collective ​defence ‌and deliver more quickly in response ⁠to ​shared and evolving threats.

"The prime minister updated on plans for the ⁠defence investment plan, underlining ​his commitment to publish it ahead of the NATO summit in ⁠Ankara," the spokesperson said in a statement.

"The NATO Secretary General welcomed the UK's increased investment in ​defence as an ⁠important contribution to the alliance and ​to meeting the ‌threats we face," the ​spokesperson added.

(Reporting by Sam Tabahriti; Editing by Emelia Sithole-Matarise)

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