Britain risks losing its place at Nato’s top table if it continues military cuts, a senior US general has warned.

Lt Gen Ben Hodges, commander of the US Army in Europe, said the UK would be unable to keep up its international commitments if forces were cut further.

A former head of the British Army described his remarks as “well founded” and “timely”.

Lt Gen Hodges spoke as Gavin Williamson, the new Defence Secretary, attended his first Nato summit since taking the job last week.

Lt Gen Hodges said Britain was a leader in the alliance, but he told the BBC he could not see how the UK’s military could keep its international commitments if it "got any smaller”.