UK yet to commit to Nato plan for rise in defence spending to 3.5% of GDP

Rutte visited Downing St on Monday and expressed confidence that Nato countries would sign up to the plan. Photograph: Thomas Krych/Zuma Press Wire/Shutterstock

Britain has still not committed to an increase in defence spending to 3.5% of GDP by the mid-2030s at this month’s Nato summit in line with a proposal from the alliance’s secretary general, Mark Rutte, defence sources said.

Though Rutte visited Downing Street on Monday and expressed confidence afterwards that countries would sign up, senior insiders said Britain was dragging its heels.