In brief
NATO’s new Deep Precision Strike missile programme sees twelve members invest over £37bn to develop a long‑range, pinpoint‑accuracy weapon. UK Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer outlines the plan as part of a broader push to meet defence‑spending targets set for 2035. While the system is expected to reach operational status in the 2030s, the project signals a shift toward a more European‑led security architecture amid rising tensions with Russia and calls for stronger deterrence.
The UK and eleven other NATO members have agreed to pour more than £37bn (about $50bn) into the Deep Precision Strike project over the next decade.
The project, unveiled by Number 10, aims to create a high‑precision long‑range missile capable of striking targets nearly 200 miles away – and potentially up to 1,250 miles – with pinpoint accuracy. It is being positioned as one of NATO’s most advanced weapons systems and is intended to extend European deterrence against rising threats.
Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer, attending his last NATO summit, presented the initiative as a way to “bring European allies together to keep NATO safe for years to come.” Foreign Secretary Yvette Cooper framed the plan as a response to a “more dangerous world” and highlighted the importance of stronger European security as part of NATO’s future.
While the missile is projected to be operational in the 2030s, the announcement marks a significant move toward a more cohesive European defence commitment. The UK’s own Defence Investment Plan already commits £300bn by 2030.
In parallel, NATO members are under pressure to meet new defence‑spending targets – 5% of GDP by 2035 – a goal agreed last year. U.S. President Donald Trump has criticized the UK’s lack of a clear plan to hit the 3.5% GDP defence spending mark.
Starmer’s meeting with the twelve countries will likely focus on the challenges posed by Russia. NATO has intercepted Russian aircraft over 700 times, and Russian military activity around UK waters has risen 30% in recent months.
During the summit, Starmer will also emphasize that NATO is not seeking confrontation but must be prepared to defend all allies. The Deep Precision Strike capability will give the UK and its partners the means to strike high‑value military targets and logistical hubs, thereby deterring aggression and reinforcing collective security.
Ukraine’s president, Volodymyr Zelensky, also used the summit platform to call for urgently needed air‑defence systems. He noted that Ukraine’s long‑range strikes – including drone and missile attacks on Russian infrastructure – have disrupted logistics and reduced the Russian army’s momentum.
Russian Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov warned that new NATO weapons will not stop the Russian offensive against Ukraine; he urged political and diplomatic solutions instead.
