In brief
UK‑led NATO allies have pledged more than £37 billion for the Deep Precision Strike missile programme, which is to strike targets up to 200 miles away and potentially extend to 1,250 miles. The initiative, unveiled at the Ankara summit, reflects growing concerns over Russian capability following 30% increased military activity near UK waters. While the United States emphasises the need for allies to meet a 5 % GDP defence target, the UK's Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer emphasised a stronger, more European‑led NATO. Russia’s spokesman condemned the push as “confrontational,” while Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky urged allies to deliver air‑defence systems. The programme is projected to enter service in the 2030s, underscoring the long‑term nature of strategic deterrence.
At a NATO summit in Ankara on 8 July, diplomats announced a £37 billion investment – the highest collective commitment yet – for a new long‑range missile system called Deep Precision Strike. The project, led by the United Kingdom, aims to strike targets roughly 300 km away with pinpoint accuracy and potentially extend the range to 1,250 km, signalling a shift toward a more technologically intensive defence posture across Europe.
Sir Keir Starmer, attending his last NATO summit as prime minister, said the programme would “help bring European allies together to keep NATO safe for years to come.” He was expected to face criticism from the United States, whose president had repeatedly called on NATO members to meet a 5 % GDP defence spending target by 2035.
Foreign Secretary Yvette Cooper framed the missile system as a recognition of the “more dangerous world” in which NATO operates. “This is about how we make sure we have a stronger Europe within a stronger NATO,” she told BBC Breakfast from Ankara.
The timing of the launch echoes broader concerns over Russian activity. NATO has scrambled fighter jets to intercept Russian aircraft approaching allied airspace more than 700 times, and Russian military operations near UK waters have increased 30 % in recent months. Starmer emphasised that NATO’s objective was not to provoke conflict but to ensure every ally could defend itself.
Ukraine’s president, Volodymyr Zelensky, used the summit to call for urgent delivery of air‑defence systems. He highlighted that Ukrainian long‑range drone and missile attacks have been crippling Russian logistics hubs, underscoring the effectiveness of precision strikes in modern warfare.
Russia’s spokesman Dmitry Peskov condemned the summit as “confrontational” and stressed that new NATO weapons would not deter Russia from continuing its offensive in Ukraine. He urged political and diplomatic resolution over military escalation, stating that the conflict could only be settled through dialogue.
The Deep Precision Strike system is expected to be operational only in the 2030s, but its announcement signals a long‑term shift toward deterrence and strategic balance. The UK has already pledged £300 billion by 2030 under its Defence Investment Plan, signalling high levels of commitment to future defence capabilities.
