Tri-Service

'US Will Moderate Commitment' If NATO Allies Don't Raise Spending

New US defence secretary James Mattis has delivered a sharp warning to NATO allies that they must increase their military spending or Washington will "moderate its commitment" to the Western alliance.

Attending his first meeting of NATO defence ministers in Brussels, retired Marine Corps General Mattis said the new US administration still regarded the alliance as the "fundamental bedrock" of the transatlantic community.

But he made clear that President Donald Trump was determined other member states must take on a greater share of the burden of common defence. According to a text of his intervention in the meeting, he said:

"No longer can the American taxpayer carry a disproportionate share of the defence of Western values. Americans cannot care more for your children's future security than you do."

"America will meet its responsibilities but if your nations don't want to see America moderate its commitment to this alliance each of your capitals needs to show support for our common defence."

UK Defence Secretary Sir Michael Fallon strongly backed US demands that all member states meet the target of committing at least 2% of their GDP to defence spending.

NATO officials confirmed on Tuesday that Britain remained one of just five alliance members - along with the US - meeting the 2% target.

Sir Michael said he had urged those countries which were not meeting the target to at least commit to annual increases to their defence budgets. He said:

"An annual increase that we're asking them to commit to would at least demonstrate good faith."

Gen Mattis's appearance at NATO headquarters had been anxiously anticipated after Mr Trump appeared to question his support for the alliance during the US election campaign, describing it as "obsolete".

While the President has since said he is committed to the alliance, his defence secretary's hard-line comments will be seen as a clear sign of his determination to secure reform.

NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg insisted Gen Mattis had voiced a "very strong commitment" to the alliance during the meeting, but acknowledged that more needed to be done when it came to burden-sharing.

Although the alliance as a whole had halted the cuts in defence spending in 2015 and expenditure had risen last year, he said some individual member states were still "struggling" to increase resources for their armed forces. He added:

"We all understand that we are safer and stronger together. Especially in times of turmoil and uncertainty, we need a strong transatlantic partnership and a strong NATO."

"Step by step, we are moving in the right direction but there is still a very long way to go."