Increase defence spending say Obama and Cameron

President Obama and David Cameron will suggest increased spending on defence to nato allies

14:33 01 September 2014

Barack Obama and David Cameron will call on European leaders to increase defence spending at this week’s summit in Wales. 

 

US President Barack Obama and Prime Minister David Cameron will call on European leaders to increase defence spending at this week’s summit in Wales amidst growing security threats. However, it is expected that the plea will be rejected by a host of countries who complain that they are still emerging from recession.

 

Nato members are expected to discuss the best ways to cope with crises in Iraq and Ukraine.

 

Former senior military commanders said that Nato allies must make a contribution and help in realising the target budget.

 

Lord West, a former head of the Navy, said: “People in a number of countries have been willing to get a free ride and are not spending. If you look at Europe, it’s only France and the UK who meet the target.

 

“Nato has to realise that it’s no good having a broken force.

 

“Putin and other countries think they are talking the talk but they are not walking the walk. It’s just bluff.

 

Lord Dannatt, a former head of the Army, said Europe’s failure to fund its forces led many

Americans to question “why Europe cannot stand on its own security feet”.

 

He said: “The sad fact is that with the exception of a small number of European Nato member states — which include the UK and France principally — the vast majority of the armed forces of other European states lack real usable capability and their governments often lack the political will to fund their armed forces properly.”