UK Leads €50B European Missile Initiative to Strengthen NATO Defense Capabilities

The United Kingdom will spearhead a European initiative to develop next-generation long-range precision weapons, with backing from more than a dozen allies committing over $50 billion across the next decade to enhance NATO’s defense capabilities, the UK government announced Wednesday.

Outgoing UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer is set to unveil the programme details at the NATO summit in Ankara. The UK-led initiative “is expected to announce that allies will spend $50 billion over the next 10 years to develop deep precision strike capabilities to bolster defense and deterrence across the alliance,” Downing Street said in a statement.

The investment will deliver “the most advanced weapons NATO will have at its disposal in the future – with the ability to strike targets no less than 300km away and in some cases beyond 2000km, with pinpoint accuracy,” it added.

Such missiles have proved crucial in the Ukraine war, allowing Ukrainian forces to hit targets far from the front line.

The partners, which will also include Baltic nations, will collaborate on several different missile systems to avoid duplication of efforts.

The weapons will be developed independently of the United States.

Starmer called on leaders to “show the unity and the strength of NATO” amid the ongoing Ukraine conflict and the US war with Iran.

“We must continue to work together as allies to develop the capability of the future to bolster security and protect growth at home,” he said in a statement.

The NATO leaders’ summit occurs at a critical juncture for the 77-year-old transatlantic alliance, with US President Trump expressing frustration with allies as Washington retracts its support for Europe.

The second day of the tense meeting in the Turkish capital saw Trump participate in the traditional group photo of 32 NATO leaders before engaging in a working session and holding a highly anticipated meeting with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky.

The summit is expected to result in European allies assuming a greater role in NATO operations, including increasing defense spending.

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