So where's the plan? Burnham promises to 'honour international commitment' on defence as US warns about 'moving beyond rhetoric' to boost spending

Published: 14:50, 20 July 2026 | Updated: 14:59, 20 July 2026 Andy Burnham carried on where Sir Keir Starmer left off on defence spending today – by failing to pledge any additional funding. Despite a multi-billion pound financial black hole and service chiefs warning vital operations will be cancelled, the new Prime Minister offered nothing new. His deflating message on defence is also likely to infuriate Britain’s closest ally, the United States. As only this morning the US Ambassador to the UK pleaded with the new PM to ensure defence spending went beyond the government’s ‘rhetoric’. In his first address to the nation outside Downing Street Andy Burnham pledged that Britain will ‘honour our commitments to our international partners’. The phrase was a reference to the country’s obligation to meet a key NATO spending target of 3.5 per cent of GDP on defence by 2035. New Prime Minister Andy Burnham failed to offer fresh encouragement on UK defence spending - despite a warning this morning from the US about Britain's need to move beyond 'rhetoric' to 'sustained investment'. To the chagrin of Britain's allies in Europe and beyond, outgoing Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer refused repeatedly to set out a pathway towards this country hitting the NATO defence spending target of 3.5 per cent of GDP by 2035. To the chagrin of allies and defence chiefs, Sir Keir repeatedly refused to set out a timetable for when defence spending will rise. Currently Britain is spending 2.6 per cent of GDP while no significant increases are expected this side of 2030. Backloading or ‘back-ending’ the rise, as it is also called, has been widely criticised due to the acceleration of Russia’s operational tempo against NATO in 2025 and 2026 – and due to factors such as a near 90 per cent increase in the cost of aviation fuel in that time period, which has affected the Royal Air Force. The failure to set out that timetable towards 3.5 per cent was a key factor behind the resignations of former Defence Secretary Dan Jarvis and former Armed Forces Minister Al Carns. Today, former head of the Royal Navy, Lord West, said: ‘Resolving the issue of defence spending is urgent and has to be addressed as the first priority of Burnham’s government.’ While former British Army commander Hamish de Bretton-Gordon said: ‘Unlike his predecessor, the Prime Minister needs to remember that defence is his number one priority. ‘The danger with backloading the investment is the level of threat Russia poses today. We cannot afford to wait to the 2030s before we recognise that. Our allies, the United States particularly, simply won’t forgive us, hence the Ambassador’s warning earlier today. ‘Andy Burnham should also remember there is a £13 billion back hole in the defence budget which must be filled in order for Britain to meet those same international commitments.’ Andy Burnham was congratulated on his appointment by Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelensky, who said: ‘Britain has always been one of the global leaders. ‘We are ready to work together in all possible formats. We highly appreciate the UK’s political, defence and values-based support. The foundation of our bilateral relationship is stronger than ever. ‘We wish the Prime Minister and the British people success in overcoming modern challenges.’ The PM said today that he will ‘be there for’ President Zelensky and the UK’s support will remain ‘resolute’ under his premiership. Mr Burnham added that President Zelensky will be one of the first foreign leaders he speaks to. The PM is also expected to speak to US President Donald Trump. He told broadcasters earlier today: ‘I’ll be making clear to President Zelensky that there is no change. I will be with him 100 per cent as Keir Starmer has been. ‘Keir has done really quite an incredible job, not just backing Ukraine but being there in a personal way. Mr Burnham has little foreign policy experience from his time in government but he said he had worked with Ukrainian mayors while he was running Greater Manchester. He added: ‘I’ve built a network of support for Ukrainian mayors, I take all of that experience into my new role. ‘President Zelensky will be left in no doubt whatsoever that Britain’s support is steadfast. It is resolute. It will be there for him and I will be there for him personally too.’ Just hours earlier, US Ambassador Warren Stephens told The Times: ‘The United States is proud to stand alongside Britain and Australia, two of our closest partners, but we must not allow our efforts to be held up by backloaded investments or other spending priorities. ‘Now more than ever, we must move beyond the rhetoric of partnership and make the sustained investments that transform alliances from agreements on paper into the living architecture of a free and secure world. ‘At the end of the day the high cost of defence spending is worth it, especially when it assures your citizens will remain safe, prosperous and secure.’ Today, the defence thinktank RUSI said the Prime Minister faces ‘a challenging international context, with intractable problems.’ Research director Rosalind Roberts said: ‘A move by Putin to shift the dynamics in Ukraine could pose a significant challenge in Burnham’s first six months. ‘The signs are Putin is doubling down and could seek escalation. A UK Prime Minister would have a central role to play in bringing UK, European and US support to bear for Ukraine.’