Twelve Nato countries, including the UK, have announced plans to spend more than £37 billion ($50 billion) over the next decade on a new long-range missile system aimed at protecting Europe. The initiative, known as the Deep Precision Strike project, was unveiled by the UK government and is scheduled for discussion at the Nato summit in Ankara, Turkey.

Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer, attending his final Nato summit, emphasized that the UK-led project would "help bring European allies together to keep Nato safe for years to come." Foreign Secretary Yvette Cooper described the plan as "part of a recognition that we're in a more dangerous world."

The missile system is billed as one of Nato's most advanced weapons, designed to strike targets nearly 200 miles (300 km) away with pinpoint accuracy, with potential reach extending up to 1,250 miles. The government highlighted the strategic importance of such capabilities, noting that "Ukraine's Armed Forces have proved that the effective use of long-range systems can have game-changing impacts on the battlefield, giving the Armed Forces the ability to degrade enemy forces far behind the frontline."

The UK government also reported that Nato had scrambled fighter jets over 700 times to intercept Russian aircraft approaching allied airspace, with Russian military activity around UK waters increasing by 30%. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov stated that Russia, which invaded Ukraine in 2022, would closely monitor the summit in Ankara.

Sir Keir Starmer is expected to face criticism from US President Donald Trump for not presenting a plan to reach the agreed Nato target of 3.5% of GDP spent on defense by 2035.

Sources