'Trump Made A Difference On NATO Spending', Says Prime Minister

Leaders from across the alliance met in Brussels last week. (Image: PA).

The Prime Minister says President Trump "has made a difference" to other members of NATO after his calls for them to increase their spending on defence.

Leaders from across NATO countries met last week in Brussels when the US President backed down over threats to pull the US out of NATO after other leaders agreed to increase defence spending "like they never have before".

Theresa May was speaking in the House of Commons in response to questions by Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn.

"We share his view that we want to see allies all stepping up to meet the commitment they gave at the summit in Wales in 2014 to spend 2% of their GDP on defence and 20% of that on equipment," said Mrs May.

"It's something we meet and a limited number of other members of NATO meet - including the United States of America.

"His making this point about burden sharing has made a difference.

"Just in the last year we've seen an extra $41 billion added to defence budgets across the NATO allies, and there was a real sense at this summit following the discussion that he initiated that we would see people not just stepping up in terms of going to meet their 2%, but seeing that there was an increased urgency in doing this."

Mr Corbyn suggested the Brussels summit had been "dominated by the erratic statements of President Trump".

Theresa May also said Western allies must continue to "deter and counter" Russia's efforts to undermine their interests and values.

The Prime Minister told the Commons she welcomes the meeting of Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin in Helsinki on Monday.

And making a statement to the Commons on last week's NATO summit, she said: "But as I agreed with President Trump in our discussions last week, we must engage from a position of unity and strength.

"This means being clear and unwavering about where Russia needs to change its behaviour, and for as long as Russia persists in its efforts to undermine our interests and values, we must continue to deter and counter them."