Falklands row shows urgent need to commit to 3% target, says Labour defence committee chair

Stanley nas Ilhas Malvinas. Ministros do Reino Unido condenaram os comentários de Javier Milei. Fotografia: Rob Carter/Alamy. Ver imagem em tela cheia. Stanley nas Ilhas Malvinas.

Prefer the Guardian on GoogleJavier Milei’s threats to the Falkland Islands make it even more important that Andy Burnham increase defence spending immediately, according to the Labour chair of the defence committee.

Tan Dhesi said the comments by the Argentinian president this week show why the government should raise military spending to 3% of GDP by 2030. But he said Burnham’s plans remain mired in confusion after the prime minister appeared to reassure him that the 2030 target would be hit, only for Downing Street to later retreat.

Dhesi was speaking after a turbulent week in geopolitics and defence policy. The Labour MP appeared to have secured a promise by the prime minister on Wednesday that the UK would spend 3% of its economic output on defence by 2030, at an estimated additional cost of £10bn a year.

Durante as primeiras perguntas do primeiro‑ministro de Burnham desde que assumiu o cargo em julho, Dhesi perguntou se ele apoiava o compromisso de 2030, avisando “vibes alone just isn’t going to be enough”.

He was speaking soon after the chancellor, John Healey, declined to sign up to the 2030 target, even though he resigned from Keir Starmer’s government over the issue.

Burnham replied that he had “made that commitment”, only for No 10 to say the prime minister was not making a firm commitment.

O governo, em vez disso, se comprometeu com uma meta de longo prazo da Nato de gastar 3,5% em defesa até 2035.

View image in fullscreenTan Dhesi asked Andy Burnham whether he backed the 2030 commitment to defence spending at Wednesday’s PMQs. Photograph: House of Commons/PA“There was no clarity [on the government’s defence policy], that’s why I asked the question,” Dhesi said.

Ainda estamos em uma situação semelhante. Minha pergunta é válida e importante para o país.

Later in the week, Donald Trump appeared to call American support for Britain’s sovereignty over the Falklands into question. The US has traditionally remained neutral on the islands’ ownership, while accepting Britain’s de facto control, but the president suggested this could be changed in retaliation for the UK’s lack of support for his war in Iran.

Nosso e‑mail matinal destrincha as principais histórias do dia, explicando o que está acontecendo e por que isso importa.

View image in fullscreenJavier Milei threatened oil sanctions against firms planning to exploit oil close to the islands. Photograph: Mariana Nedelcu/ReutersHis comments about the islands have emboldened Milei, who said on Thursday night “winds of change” favourable to his country’s claim to the islands were “blowing around the world”.

He added: “The US is considering this change of position because it knows that Argentina has a reliable partner, aligned with western values, in a strategically important position that can be a valuable ally in the decades to come.”.

Ele também disse que empresas que desenvolvem petróleo “behind the back of the Argentine government” seriam proibidas de fazer negócios na Argentina.

Ministers in the UK condemned Milei’s comments on Friday, saying the Falklands would remain British for as long as the people who live there wanted them to.