UK to lead European initiative to fund next generation of long-range missiles

Outgoing UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer was set to unveil details of the programme at the NATO summit in Ankara.

Backed by a dozen European partners, 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 defence 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, who are also expected to include Baltic nations, will work on several different missiles with a view to avoiding duplication.

The weapons will be developed without the involvement of the United States.

Europe's defence dilemma: autonomy or dependence? US President Donald Trump stands next to British Prime Minister Keir Starmer as NATO leaders gather for a group photo at a summit in Ankara, Turkey, on 8 July 2026.

Closer European cooperation

Starmer on Wednesday urged leaders to "show the unity and the strength of NATO" against a background of the 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 comes at a fraught time for the 77-year-old transatlantic alliance, with US President Donald Trump lashing out at allies as Washington steps back from Europe.

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

The summit is expected to see European allies make plans to take a bigger role in NATO, including by upping defence spending.

(with newswires)