Tan Dhesi, the Labour chair of the defence committee, has urged Prime Minister Andy Burnham to increase defence spending immediately. Dhesi stated that recent comments by Argentinian President Javier Milei regarding the Falkland Islands underscore the importance of raising military spending to 3% of GDP by 2030.
Dhesi expressed concern that the Prime Minister's plans for defence spending remain unclear. He noted that while Prime Minister Burnham appeared to reassure him on Wednesday that the 2030 target would be met, Downing Street later retracted this, stating no firm commitment had been made.
The government has instead committed to a longer-term Nato target of spending 3.5% on defence by 2035. Dhesi emphasised the importance of defending the Falkland Islands, stating, "We owe it to the Falklands – they say it’s their right to self-determination. It’s important that we also defend them from this threat."
President Milei's comments followed remarks by Donald Trump, who appeared to question American support for Britain's sovereignty over the Falklands. Milei stated on Thursday that "winds of change" favourable to Argentina's claim were "blowing around the world." UK ministers condemned Milei's comments on Friday, reaffirming that the Falklands would remain British as long as its residents wished.