PM expected to press EU on defence spending

Prime Minister Theresa May is expected to urge EU Nato members to spend more on defence at an informal summit in Malta.

The UK is one of the few alliance members, including the U.S, Greece, Poland and Estonia, to meet pledges to spend a minimum of two per cent of GDP on defence. Speaking in Washington, May said the burden of spending within Nato should be more ‘fairly shared’.

Following recent meetings with new U.S President Donald Trump, May will tell EU leaders of Trump’s 100 per cent commitment to Nato, but will still face substantial challenges in pushing for higher defence spending.

May's Nato message follows Defence Secretary Sir Michael Fallon warning that Russia was ‘clearly testing Nato and the West’ by carrying out a sustained campaign of cyber attacks targeting democracy and critical infrastructure in the West.