President Donald Trump has been consistent, and he is correct: America’s allies must do more for their own defense and for our collective security.

Britain has heard that message — and we are acting on it, putting our money where our mouth is.

The United Kingdom is now undertaking its largest sustained increase in defense spending since the Cold War, on track to rise by 27% in real terms by 2030 as part of our commitment to reach 3.5% of GDP by 2035.

Under our new Defense Investment Plan, published Tuesday, the UK has committed an additional $20 billion in funding to a defense plan that’s set to spend $393 billion over the next four years. 

To put it in perspective, that’s more than enough money to buy all 32 NFL franchises — or the McDonald’s Corporation.

This weekend, the United Kingdom will proudly and wholeheartedly join our American friends to mark 250 years since the Declaration of Independence.

We share an extraordinary story: What began in bloody conflict in 1776 has been forged into the deepest, closest alliance between any two nations.

Britain is determined to ensure we remain Washington’s preeminent ally — side by side in defense, nuclear security and intelligence, together at the heart of NATO, AUKUS and the Five Eyes network.

We are already NATO’s third-highest defense spender in cash terms, an investment that’s about reshaping our capabilities to prevail in the conflicts of tomorrow.

A stronger Britain means a stronger NATO, and a stronger NATO means a more secure America.

After all, Article V, the principle that an attack on one alliance member is an attack on all, has only been invoked once — in defense of the United States after 9/11.

And this British investment is flowing directly to American workers and businesses, because our two nations’ defense industrial bases have long been connected.

Between 2022 and 2024, allies agreed to buy $120 billion worth of weapons from US defense firms.

By 2035, Lockheed Martin will supply 50% of all fighter jets in Europe.

UK investment in US defense programs supports more than 160,000 American jobs.

Meanwhile, at least 15% of every F-35 aircraft is produced in the United Kingdom.  

Our investments are not based on sentiment for past glories: They are hard-headed and informed by lessons learned from Ukraine and the Middle East. 

We are modernizing our warfighting capabilities across every domain.

That’s why the UK’s plan focuses on autonomous drones, new munitions, new warships and submarines, uncrewed missile systems and a new cyber force.

Nowhere is the strength of UK-US defense expertise more evident than in the AUKUS military pact.

Alongside Australia, our three nations are building the next generation of nuclear-powered attack submarines and accelerating cooperation on emerging technologies for new weapons systems and underwater capabilities. 

For 250 years, the relationship between Britain and America has been one of the world’s greatest strategic partnerships.

The bedrock is our willingness to jointly bear the burdens of leadership, our shared sacrifice and the defense of the common values we cherish.

The United Kingdom is investing in the future of our transatlantic alliance, giving our extraordinary service personnel the equipment and powers they need to fight and win.

Our commitment ensures that the UK and the US will meet the challenges of a more dangerous and contested world — together. 

Sir Christian Turner is the British ambassador to the United States of America.