Labour defence chair urges UK to settle 3% spending target amid Falklands tensions

Tan Dhesi, chair of the UK Labour defence committee, has urged the government to commit immediately to spending 3% of gross domestic product on defence by 2030, citing remarks by Argentine President Javier Milei about the Falkland Islands.

Dhesi told The Guardian that the government should not defer the decision, arguing that the reported threats made the spending target more urgent. The Falkland Islands are under British control, although Argentina maintains a sovereignty claim.

The proposed commitment remains unresolved. The prime minister appeared to endorse the 2030 target in parliament before Downing Street clarified that no firm commitment had been made. The government has instead committed to a NATO target of 3.5% of GDP on defence by 2035.

The dispute has also been complicated by comments from Donald Trump that were reported as calling US support for Britain’s sovereignty position into question. The United States has traditionally remained neutral on ownership of the islands while accepting Britain’s de facto control.

UK ministers have reaffirmed that the Falkland Islands will remain British for as long as their residents wish. The 3% target has been estimated in the report to require an additional £10 billion a year.