Rishi Sunak has told European countries they will have to boost defence spending to keep the US “committed” to Nato in the future.

The Prime Minister said the continent must take on more responsibility for its defence against the backdrop of Donald Trump making a second run for the White House.

In February the former US president claimed he would let Russia do “whatever the hell they want” to Nato members who fail to hit the Alliance’s spending target of two per cent of GDP.

Speaking in Berlin alongside Olaf Scholz, the German Chancellor, Mr Sunak said US presidents had always made the “reasonable” demand for Europe to spend more.

He said that European nations can no longer ask the US to bankroll the continent’s security if they are not “prepared to make sacrifices” themselves.

The Prime Minister said it was “important” that Europe showed it was taking on a greater share of the burden “to keep the US committed to Nato”.

Subscribe to The Telegraph with our special offer: just £1 for 3 months. Start your free trial now:
https://www.telegraph.co.uk/customer/...

Get the latest headlines: https://www.telegraph.co.uk/

Telegraph.co.uk and    / telegraphtv   are websites of The Telegraph, the UK's best-selling quality daily newspaper providing news and analysis on UK and world events, business, sport, lifestyle and culture.