UK PM in Crisis as Two Defence Chiefs Quit Over Russia Threat

British Prime Minister Keir Starmer is facing a major political crisis after his defence secretary and defence minister both quit the government [171670]. The two officials resigned over complaints that Britain is not spending enough on the military to protect the country from a potential Russian attack [171670]. Defence Secretary John Healey said the government is not spending enough on the military, calling his resignation a warning for all of Europe [170686]. One year after NATO’s historic summit in The Hague, European leaders promised huge increases in defence spending due to the growing threat of Russian aggression, but key governments in the UK, France, and Italy are not following through [170686]. Leaders like Starmer, Emmanuel Macron, and Giorgia Meloni worry that borrowing more money for defence could hurt their countries’ credit ratings, appearing more scared of investors than of Russia [170686]. Healey’s dramatic exit shows how politically dangerous it has become to find the money for defence [170686]. The resignations come as the European Union opens formal accession negotiations with Ukraine and Moldova, marking a significant step in their long path toward membership [171659]. The talks, which start this week, focus on policy areas including fundamental rights, justice, and economic reforms, signaling the bloc’s continued support for the two nations amid ongoing geopolitical tensions [171659].