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British Prime Minister, Keir Starmer on Tuesday, said he would increase annual defence spending to 2.5% of GDP by 2027 and target a 3% level last seen just after the Cold War, a signal to the US President Donald Trump that Britain can help boost Europe’s security.

Starmer, on the eve of his departure to meet Trump in Washington, told parliament that he was bringing the increase in defence spending forward to offer Europe more support as the US oversees peace talks with Russia over its war in Ukraine.

The prime minister, with public spending already stretched in Britain, said the increase from its current 2.3% would be fully paid for by a 40% cut to international aid, an announcement he said he was not happy to make but one which was necessary to offer Ukraine and Europe support in a new era.

Since Trump seemingly abandoned the United States’ more Ukraine-friendly approach to Russia’s war, blindsiding much of Europe, Starmer and other European leaders have stepped up diplomatic efforts to show a united front to support Kyiv.

“Starting today, I can announce this government will begin the biggest sustained increase in defence spending since the end of the Cold War.

“We must still go further. I have long argued that … all European allies must step up and do more for our own defence,” he said.

According to him, Britain would set a target for spending 3% of gross domestic product in the next parliament, which will convene after a national election due in 2029, adding that the increase would see Britain spending 13.4 billion pounds ($17 billion) a year more on defence from 2027, Starmer said.