Boris Johnson says EU should 'shoulder more' of NATO cost
The Foreign Secretary suggests Donald Trump was right to raise the issue of EU members not paying their way.
Monday 14 November 2016 14:34, UK
Boris Johnson has said it would be a "good thing" if EU countries "shoulder more of their responsibilities" over NATO.
It comes after US President-elect Donald Trump said NATO members that do not spend the required 2% of GDP on defence should pay more into the alliance.
Speaking as he arrived for a meeting of EU foreign ministers, Mr Johnson said: "It's a good thing if other European countries do shoulder more of their responsibilities.
"It's important when you're setting up these EU structures that they should be complementary with NATO. You shouldn't undermine the fundamental security architecture that's looked after us for the last 70 years."
His words were echoed by Britain's Defence Secretary Michael Fallon, who was also in Brussels for a meeting of ministers.
He said: "Instead of planning expensive new headquarters or dreaming of an European army, what Europe needs to do now is to spend more on its own defence, that is the best possible approach to the Trump Presidency."
On Sunday, the head of Britain's Armed Forces told Sky News he was sure NATO would survive, despite Mr Trump describing the organisation as "obsolete".
Air Chief Marshal Sir Stuart Peach told Sky's Murnaghan programme: "It is a very durable and enduring organisation.
"NATO is a collective security organisation and in that role it's very important that we honour that commitment.
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"I have every confidence that commitment will be honoured should that be necessary."
Earlier, NATO's secretary general Jens Stoltenberg warned Mr Trump that going it alone was not an option.
In an interview with The Observer newspaper, Mr Stoltenberg said: "We face the greatest challenges to our security in a generation.
"This is no time to question the partnership between Europe and the United States."
During the election campaign, Mr Trump raised questions about whether the US would automatically come to the aid of an endangered ally, and spoke warmly about Russian President Vladimir Putin.
Currently the US accounts for 70% of NATO spending.
In his interview with Sky News, Sir Stuart Peach also emphasised the strong military links between the UK and the US.
"We have a very wide and a very deep relationship with the US through the armed forces," he said.
"The military links between our two countries are strong and they are very broadly based, and they will continue to be so.
"Mr Trump's election is just another moment in US history."
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