UK defense secretary resigns over military spending

British defence minister John Healey quit on Thursday in ​a dispute over military spending, ‌accusing Prime Minister Keir Starmer of failing to commit the government resources that are ​needed to defend the country, Report informs via Reuters.

Britain's ​defence and finance ministries have ⁠been locked in talks for months ​over how to meet rising demands ​to expand military spending, delaying Britain's Defence Investment Plan since last year.

"You have been ​unable, and the Treasury has ​been unwilling, to commit the resources that the ‌nation ⁠needs to defend the country at this time of rising threats," Healey said in his letter to ​Starmer.

The ​delay has ⁠infuriated Britain's defence industry which says it cannot ​invest in long-term programmes for ​the country's security at a time of huge geopolitical volatility and as the ⁠United ​States pivots away ​from protecting Europe.