UK and allies must increase defence spending to keep US in Nato, says Healey The UK and European allies must “do more of the heavy lifting” by increasing defence spending to help keep the US part of Nato, according to Defence Secretary John Healey.
It is time for the UK and European allies to step up, to do more of the heavy lifting and that includes increasing defence spending to meet the threats that we face, it includes – as I’ve discussed with the new defence secretary in the US – boosting also our defence industry on both sides of the Atlantic.”.
Speaking at defence questions, Conservative former chancellor Jeremy Hunt told the Commons: “When the UK persuaded Nato to spend 2% of GDP on defence in 2014, just two other countries did – now it is 23 countries.
Mr Healey acknowledged the need for more to be done by Nato members as he faced a series of questions from the Tory benches on when the UK Government would increase defence spending to 2.5% of GDP.
Mr Healey highlighted the previous Tory negotiations on the deal, adding: “The Prime Minister’s point was that without long-term legal certainty it casts into doubt the operational security of that base and this is a deal that will secure that operational guarantee for at least a century.”.
