The British minister responsible for international development, Anneliese Dodds, resigned from her position on Friday. Her resignation came after Prime Minister Keir Starmer announced earlier this week a plan to increase defense spending by reducing the foreign aid budget.
In a public letter shared on social media, Dodds expressed her concerns regarding the cuts to foreign aid, arguing there are no easy solutions to balancing the need for increased defense funding. She believes that the significant reductions in aid would have dire consequences, particularly for those in desperate need of food and healthcare.
During a statement on Tuesday, Prime Minister Starmer outlined plans to raise the UK’s defense spending to 2.5% of its GDP by 2027, increasing from the current 2.3%. He pointed to a new era of insecurity in Europe that requires what he called a “generational response.” However, this increase will be funded by slashing the aid budget from 0.5% of GDP to 0.3%.
Dodds acknowledged the necessity of boosting defense spending but argued that the extent of the proposed cuts is too severe and detrimental to the UK’s global standing. She indicated that while the Prime Minister expressed intentions to maintain support for regions like Gaza, Sudan, and Ukraine, it would be impossible to uphold these commitments given the scale of the aid reductions.
The decision to raise defense spending has garnered support from American political figures but has faced backlash from aid organizations, which claim it undermines efforts to assist the world’s poorest and weakens Britain’s soft power.
In her letter, Dodds mentioned she withheld her resignation earlier in the week to ensure that Starmer had a united Cabinet before his important meeting with former President Donald Trump. She indicated that she felt it was crucial for him to present a strong front during this diplomatic engagement.
The implications of this decision could resonate far beyond the UK, drawing parallels to previous cuts in foreign aid championed by the Trump administration.
