UK and Japan Pledge Joint Fighter Jet Commitment as New Defence Secretary Revisits Military Spending Plan After Healey Resignation

London, United Kingdom – Prime Minister Keir Starmer welcomed Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi to Downing Street on Sunday for a bilateral meeting focused on deepening defence cooperation, as the UK's newly appointed Defence Secretary Dan Jarvis prepares to "reprioritise" the military spending plan following the shock resignation of his predecessor John Healey.

Japanese sources indicated they wanted the UK to sign an international contract committing to the continuation of the Global Combat Air Programme (GCAP) – a next-generation fighter jet project involving the UK, Japan, and Italy – by the end of the month. Prior to the meeting, the UK had said it expected both leaders to confirm their shared commitment to the flagship programme.

The meeting came as Starmer faces mounting pressure over defence spending following Healey's resignation on Thursday. Healey stepped down after rejecting a Treasury settlement that he said did not "give our forces the resources they need" amid rising global threats from Russia and Iran.

UK-Japan Fighter Jet: A Flagship Programme Under Pressure

The GCAP project represents one of the most significant defence collaborations of the decade, bringing together three of the world's most technologically advanced nations to develop a sixth-generation fighter jet. The aircraft is intended to replace the UK's Eurofighter Typhoon, Japan's F-2, and Italy's Panavia Tornado by 2035.

Japanese sources made clear their urgency for a formal commitment, wanting the UK to sign an international contract by the end of the month. The UK's domestic political turmoil – including the resignation of Healey and ongoing speculation about Starmer's leadership – has raised questions among international partners about Britain's reliability as a defence collaborator.

During the Downing Street meeting, both leaders confirmed their shared commitment to the programme, but Japanese officials are understood to be seeking concrete contractual guarantees rather than political declarations.

Healey's Resignation: The £18bn Funding Gap

Healey resigned on Thursday after a bitter dispute with the Treasury over defence funding. According to sources close to the former defence secretary, Downing Street would only offer £13.5 billion to plug an £18 billion gap in the funding of major defence projects – a shortfall partly funded by cutting other departments' capital budgets by 1%.

Speaking after his resignation, Healey said he would not accept a Defence Investment Plan (Dip) settlement that did not "give our forces the resources they need." He accused the Treasury of being unwilling to provide the funds "to defend the country at this time of rising threats."

Healey was also concerned that Starmer did not appear to be embracing a Nato target of spending 3.5% of GDP on defence by 2035. Though Starmer said in February that Britain "needs to go faster" on defence spending, he was prepared to offer Healey just an extra £2 billion, taking spending to 2.68% by 2030.

A source close to Healey suggested that simply reopening the Dip would lose sight of the bigger picture: the plan to reach 3% by 2030 and to be on a clear and credible path to 3.5%.

Jarvis Takes Over: 'Reprioritise' Not 'More Cash'

Multiple government sources said new Defence Secretary Dan Jarvis would look to "reprioritise" aspects of the defence investment plan, which was delayed until July after Healey's resignation. An ally of Jarvis said he would have a strong hand in future negotiations with Starmer, who is facing a possible leadership challenge from Andy Burnham.

"They can't sack him [Jarvis] or let him resign," the ally said, suggesting that the prime minister's weakened political position gives Jarvis significant leverage in defence spending negotiations.

Other senior sources said there were likely to be tweaks "within the Dip" rather than offers of extra cash, suggesting that Jarvis might be able to free up money by axing projects Healey had been unwilling to cut. However, sources close to Healey suggested tweaks to the Dip would miss the point – and that the major concern should be the lack of a plan for spending to reach 3% of GDP by 2030.

Jarvis, the former security minister, has been given until the Nato summit in Ankara in early July to offer an alternative plan that would bring more investment. "Dan will need something to come away with, there is no question," one senior source said.

Royal Marines Seize Russian Shadow Fleet Tanker

Overnight, the Royal Marines seized a Russia-linked shadow fleet oil tanker in the English Channel in a dramatic operation that underscored Britain's commitment to confronting Russian aggression. Though the Ministry of Defence said the operation was months in the planning, the seizure was accompanied by combative rhetoric from Starmer.

"Another bad day to be Vladimir Putin," the prime minister said as he posted a video of the capture on social media. The operation marked a significant escalation in Britain's efforts to disrupt Russia's shadow fleet – aging, often uninsured tankers that Moscow has used to circumvent international sanctions on its oil exports.

The seizure comes as European allies prepare to announce further sanctions on Russia at this week's G7 summit, with a particular focus on closing loopholes that have allowed the shadow fleet to operate.

Starmer's Leadership Under Threat

The stakes are high for Starmer, who on Monday could be attending one of his final global meetings as prime minister – depending on Andy Burnham's moves after the outcome of Thursday's Makerfield byelection. Burnham, the mayor of Greater Manchester, has been rumored to be considering a leadership challenge, and a poor showing for Labour in the byelection could accelerate his plans.

Despite the domestic turmoil, Starmer will travel to Évian in France for the G7 summit on Monday afternoon. He is expected to tell fellow leaders that the world faces threats "not been in our lifetime" with wars on two fronts, the rapid acceleration of technology, and the deterioration of the global order.

Starmer will call for further sanctions on Russia alongside military and energy support for Ukraine. "If Russia won't agree to a ceasefire and engage in meaningful negotiations, Ukraine will continue their fight, and we will back them all the way on that," said a Downing Street spokesperson.

Starmer spoke to US President Donald Trump and Nato Secretary General Mark Rutte on Saturday in the aftermath of Healey's shock resignation. Downing Street said he had told Rutte the UK would spend 3% of GDP on defence during the next parliament, by the end of 2034 – a commitment that falls short of the 3.5% target some allies have advocated.

Cabinet Tensions Over Spending Cuts

Despite Culture Secretary Lisa Nandy's suggestion that discussions about the Dip were "ongoing," cabinet ministers told the Guardian they would be loath to reopen their departments' spending settlements yet again. Some said there were "red lines" on investments in capital projects that they would not be prepared to cut.

Multiple sources in No 10, the Treasury, and the MoD said there were qualms about the Dip in its current form before Healey's resignation. Chancellor Rachel Reeves and Starmer are understood to have asked Healey, when he was in post, to look again at the balance of funding, particularly to increase spending on autonomous ships and drones.

Others said there was widespread frustration across the government about the black hole in the department's finances, which had existed when Healey took office and was not addressed adequately in the spending review. "That is all on John," one minister said.

A source close to Jarvis confirmed "new conversations" with the Treasury and No 10 were continuing – though stopped short of saying they were about demands for more funding. Starmer is said to have personally phoned cabinet ministers to unpick parts of their spending settlements in order to fund increases in defence during the course of the Dip – and is reluctant to ask restive ministers to look again at their budgets.

What to Watch This Week

Several key events will shape the defence debate in the coming days:

• G7 Summit (Évian, France): Starmer will meet world leaders to discuss Russian sanctions, Ukraine support, and global security threats
• Makerfield Byelection (Thursday): Results could trigger leadership challenge from Andy Burnham
• GCAP Contract Deadline (End of month): Japan seeking UK commitment to fighter jet programme
• Nato Summit (Ankara, early July): Jarvis deadline to present alternative defence spending plan

For Starmer, navigating these challenges while maintaining party unity and international credibility will test his leadership to its limits.