The UK's nuclear deterrent is key to Starmer's plans to keep the UK secure

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Sir Keir Starmer will present Labor as the 'party of national security' as he seeks to focus attention on defense issues during the general election campaign .

The Labor leader is expected to meet armed forces veterans and a group of his party's candidates during his campaign in the northwest of England on Monday.

Sir Keir will reaffirm his commitment to a "triple lock of nuclear deterrence" as well as his ambition to increase defense spending to 2.5% of gross domestic product (GDP), a measure of the size of the economy.

Prime Minister Rishi Sunak has made it clear that he wants to achieve the 2.5% target. cent by 2030, although Labor has so far refused to specify its timetable, noting only that it would do so when economic conditions allow.

Labor says its triple nuclear deterrence lock-in involves: a commitment to build the four new submarine nuclear power stations at Barrow-in-Furness; maintaining Britain's continued at-sea deterrence; and delivery of any future upgrades needed for submarines to patrol the waters.

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The Vanguard-class nuclear deterrent submarine, HMS Vengeance, is among those to be replaced by larger Dreadnought-class submarines ( PA Wire)

The Vanguard-class submarines are expected to be replaced by the larger Dreadnought-class submarines in the 2030s.

Between £31 billion and £41 billion sterling were earmarked for the wider Vanguard-class submarine replacement programme, according to figures from the House of Commons Library.

Sir Keir attempted to change perceptions of the defense posture of Labor after the party's time under the leadership of Jeremy Corbyn, a long-time critic of NATO and Trident....