Theresa May to demand fellow EU leaders pull their weight on NATO funding as part of her deal with Donald Trump
The PM will attend an informal meeting of the other 27 EU countries in Malta tomorrow, where she will hammer home the need for all of Europe to up their defence contributions
THERESA May will tomorrow demand her fellow EU leaders pull their weight on Nato funding as part of her deal with Donald Trump.
The PM will attend an informal meeting of the other 27 EU countries in Malta on Friday, where she will hammer home the need for all of Europe to up their defence contributions to secure the future of the military alliance.
It is the first time she will come face to face with the heads of state since setting out her Brexit goals.
Downing Street said the PM was planning on briefing the other leaders on her visit to Washington DC and remind them that she had “secured a guarantee from President Trump that he was 100 per cent supportive of Nato.”
Mrs May is expected to say that “this guarantee – and the recognition of Nato as the bulwark of our collective defence - underlines the importance of strong cooperation on defence and security.”
And she will urge them to finally “deliver on their commitments to spend 2 per cent of their GDP on defence, so that the burden is more fairly shared.
She will use an meeting and a lunch to remind the EU chiefs: “only by investing properly in our defence that we can ensure we are properly equipped to face our shared challenges together.”
In a short visit to Valletta, Malta Mrs May will also take part in a discussion on “external migration”, where she will pledge that the UK is willing to “remain a reliable partner” helping out after Brexit.
Mrs May “will advocate a comprehensive and collaborative approach that includes supporting refugees close to their homes; deterring economic migrants from moving; tirelessly pursuing smugglers; and returning those who arrive on our shores with no right to remain.”
Mrs May will also hold a series of one on one meetings with fellow leaders, but will not attend an afternoon session with EU leaders will discuss the future of the troubled union after Britain’s departure.
No 10 also revealed today that Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu will fly to London for talks with Mrs May.
Britain’s relationship with our closest Middle East ally was put under extreme strain last last year following a row at the UN.
The UK backed a critical motion slamming Israel, prompting Mr Netanyahu to cancel a previously planned visit.