LONDON, July 8, 2026 (BSS/AFP) - The UK government will lead a coalition of 
around a dozen European countries to step up funding for the next generation 
of long-range missiles designed to protect Europe, the UK government said on 
Wednesday.

Prime Minister Keir Starmer was set to unveil details of the programme at the 
NATO summit in Ankara.

The premier would "convene around a dozen European partners at the summit 
today to launch the new initiative, which is expected to announce that allies 
will spend $50 billion (o37 billion) over the next 10 years to develop deep 
precision strike capabilities to bolster defence and deterrence across the 
alliance", his Downing Street office said in a statement.

The investment would "deliver the most advanced weapons NATO will have at its 
disposal in the future -- with the ability to strike targets no less than 300 
kilometres (186 miles) away and in some cases beyond 2,000 km, with pinpoint 
accuracy", it added.

Starmer on Wednesday urged leaders to "show the unity and the strength of 
NATO" against a background of the Ukraine conflict and the US war with Iran.

"We must continue to work together as allies to develop the capability of the 
future to bolster security and protect growth at home," he added in a 
statement.

The summit comes at a fraught time for the 77-year-old transatlantic 
alliance, with US President Donald Trump lashing out at allies as Washington 
steps back from Europe.

The second day of the tense summit in the Turkish capital saw Trump pose for 
the traditional family photo of 32 NATO leaders, before taking part in a 
working session and holding a highly anticipated meeting with Ukrainian 
President Volodymyr Zelensky.