Twelve nations, including Britain, may adopt a plan to spend over $50 billion over the next decade to develop long-range missiles aimed at securing Europe. Details of this new project, dubbed “Deep Precision Strike,” were unveiled by Downing Street and are set to be discussed at the ongoing NATO summit in Ankara, Turkey, this Wednesday. The BBC reported this development online.
British Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer is currently in Ankara to attend what is his first NATO summit in office. Although nearly all NATO members agreed last year to a target of spending 3.5% of their GDP on defense by 2035, Starmer could face some criticism from US President Donald Trump for not yet presenting a concrete plan to meet this goal. However, Starmer is scheduled to meet with around a dozen NATO leaders on Wednesday to discuss this new missile program. Considered one of NATO’s most advanced weapons, the missile is capable of striking targets with precision from a distance of approximately 200 miles (300 kilometers), with the potential to extend its range to 1,250 miles in the future. Starmer stated that this British-led initiative would foster cooperation among European allies to ensure NATO’s long-term security. Yet, like many other military projects, the “Deep Strike” missile is unlikely to be fully operational before the 2030s. Last June, US Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth announced a six-month review regarding the US military presence in Europe. Trump has long maintained that NATO members must increase their own spending on European defense.
In fact, at last year’s summit, NATO members agreed on a target to spend 5% of GDP on defense and security by 2035. Starmer has already pledged £300 billion for Britain’s defense investment plan by 2030. At the Ankara summit, he will place special emphasis on the threat posed by Russia to both NATO and Britain. According to British government data, NATO has scrambled fighter jets over 700 times to intercept Russian warplanes approaching allied airspace, and Russian military activity around British waters has increased by approximately 30 percent. British Foreign Secretary Yvette Cooper stated that this deep-strike capability would enable Britain and its allies to deter any aggressor and strengthen mutual security by targeting high-value military assets and logistical supply lines. She added that, from Ankara, they are sending a clear message to Russian President Vladimir Putin: NATO is now stronger, more European, and fully prepared to protect its citizens against the long-term threat posed by Russia.
Meanwhile, in a speech on Tuesday, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy urged NATO allies to urgently supply air defense systems to counter escalating Russian attacks. Ukraine has already intensified long-range drone and missile strikes against oil refineries and military targets inside Russia, resulting in severe fuel shortages and power outages there. Downing Street stated that Ukrainian forces have demonstrated how the effective use of long-range systems can turn the tide of battle on the front lines.
However, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov stated on Tuesday that Russia would be monitoring the Ankara summit very closely. He told reporters that no matter what new weapons Kyiv receives from NATO, nothing will deter Russia from continuing its military operation in Ukraine until its objectives are achieved. He expressed regret that the rhetoric regarding Russia at the summit was entirely confrontational rather than part of any constructive discussion or dialogue. Peskov noted that resolving the conflict through political and diplomatic means remains the preferred approach for Russia.
