When Sir Keir Starmer arrived in Ankara for his final NATO summit as prime minister, he was handed a personalised revolver with live ammunition by Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan — a gift for every leader attending. The moment captured the blend of pageantry and hard security bargaining that defines the alliance, but behind the scenes, three big stories were unfolding: a new £37bn missile project, the state of UK-US relations under Donald Trump, and the revelation that China had warned Russia against using nuclear weapons in Ukraine.
Twelve countries, including the UK, have signed up to a new long-range missile programme called Deep Precision Strike, set to cost more than £37bn ($50bn) over the next decade. The system is billed as one of NATO's most advanced weapons, capable of striking targets nearly 200 miles (300km) away with pinpoint accuracy, with potential to extend to 1,250 miles. Sir Keir described it as a UK-led initiative that would “help bring European allies together to keep NATO safe for years to come”. However, like many military projects in the pipeline, it is not expected to be ready until the 2030s.
“Explains NATO's new missile project, UK-US relations, and China's nuclear warning at the 2026 Ankara summit.”
Meanwhile, the relationship between Sir Keir and US President Donald Trump came under scrutiny. The pair had built a positive working relationship early on, which Sir Keir's team had highlighted as a major success. But Trump later mocked Sir Keir as “no Winston Churchill” over a row about UK bases being used for US-Israel strikes on Iran. At the summit, Trump repeated his criticism of the UK's response to the conflict. Asked if Trump had wished him well as he prepares to leave Downing Street, Sir Keir said: “Yes he did, and we're going to stay in touch.” He stressed that the US-UK strategic alliance is “hugely important” in defence and security.
Separately, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy told reporters that China had warned Russia against using nuclear weapons in response to Ukrainian strikes on its territory. He said he learned of Beijing's intervention from European leaders at the summit, who discussed “China's role in ending the war”. Zelenskyy added that he also discussed the topic with Trump but would keep the contents private. The revelation comes after Russia conducted nuclear military training in Belarus in May, though President Putin has so far refrained from direct nuclear threats.
## Why it matters for UK readers
The UK is one of NATO's largest European members and a key player in collective defence. The new Deep Precision Strike project means British taxpayers will contribute to a major missile programme designed to protect Europe — but it won't be ready until the 2030s, leaving a capability gap. The UK has already committed £300bn by 2030 in its Defence Investment Plan. Meanwhile, Trump's criticism and the state of UK-US relations matter because the US remains the alliance's dominant military power, and a strained relationship could affect intelligence-sharing, troop deployments, and diplomatic support. The UK is also potentially facing a change of prime minister soon, with Andy Burnham the only candidate so far to replace Sir Keir.
## Key questions answered
Q: What is the Deep Precision Strike project? It is a new long-range missile system funded by 12 NATO countries, including the UK, costing £37bn over 10 years. It is designed to strike targets up to 200 miles away (with potential to extend to 1,250 miles) and is intended to strengthen European defence, but won't be ready until the 2030s.
Q: Why did Trump criticise Sir Keir Starmer? Trump mocked Sir Keir as “no Winston Churchill” in a dispute over the refusal to let US-Israel use UK bases for initial strikes on Iran. At the Ankara summit, Trump repeated criticism of the UK's response to the conflict, but Sir Keir maintained they have a good working relationship.
Q: What did China say about nuclear weapons in Ukraine? President Zelenskyy said China directly warned Russia in an “ultimatum-like” form that there can be no thought of using nuclear weapons in response to Ukrainian strikes on Russian territory. Zelenskyy learned of this from European leaders at the NATO summit.
## What happens next
The Deep Precision Strike project will be discussed further among a dozen leaders convened by Sir Keir at the summit. The UK is facing pressure to set out a plan for reaching the NATO target of spending 3.5% of GDP on defence by 2035 — a target agreed by nearly all members last year. Meanwhile, US Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth announced a six-month review of US forces in Europe. Sir Keir is set to step down as prime minister, with a leadership contest underway; Andy Burnham is the only declared candidate so far and could take office on 20 July. The next NATO summit and ongoing tensions with Russia will keep these issues in the spotlight.
