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Defence Secretary John Healey said the review would help the government “get to grips with the threats we face, the capabilities we need for the future, the state of our armed forces”.<\/p>\n
Pressed on when the target would be met, he said the government had to have “the chance to open the books and get to grips with the terrible state of public finances”. <\/p>\n
He said the defence review could not be done in weeks but would be “done properly” and “done at pace”.<\/p>\n
The Conservatives, who during the election pledged to meet 2.5% by 2030, have said failure to set out a timetable would “cast serious doubt” on the government’s commitment to security.<\/p>\n
Alongside Mr Healey, the prime minister has been joined on his trip by Foreign Secretary David Lammy and minister for European relations Nick Thomas-Symonds. <\/p>\n
After arriving in Washington, Sir Keir and Mr Thomas-Symonds met German Chancellor Olaf Scholz. <\/p>\n
The prime minister also met Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky. <\/p>\n
Sir Keir reaffirmed his support for Ukraine, saying: “There’s a change of government but no change of approach.”<\/p>\n
He told BBC Political Editor Chris Mason he discussed with President Zelensky “what further support he needs” and he said he would use the Nato summit “to make sure that support is agreed”.<\/p>\n
The UK prime minister said he also wanted to send “a message to Putin” about the resolve of Nato, that it was “more united than it has ever been” and “absolutely clear-eyed about the threat of Russian aggression”.<\/p>\n
Mr Zelensky thanked the UK for being “with us from the very beginning of the war”.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
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