Nato in crisis as Donald Trump lashes out at key allies Nato is in crisis after US President Donald Trump questioned the future of the 69-year-old military alliance, attacking European countries […]

Nato is in crisis after US President Donald Trump questioned the future of the 69-year-old military alliance, attacking European countries for failing to pay their fair share towards the continent’s defence.

He hit out after the G7 summit ended in acrimony and the growing threat of a transatlantic trade war triggered by his decision to impose tariffs on imports of European steel.

Mr Trump attacked Nato as “obsolete and disproportionately too expensive” during the presidential campaign and returned to the theme after the G7 summit in Canada.

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He explicitly linked American military spending to the European Union’s trade surplus with the United States, with Germany his main target. The President clashed with Chancellor Angela Merkel at the fractious summit.

“The US pays close to the entire cost of Nato-protecting many of these same countries that rip us off on trade (they pay only a fraction of the cost-and laugh),” he tweeted.

“Germany pays 1 per cent (slowly) of GDP towards Nato, while we pay 4 per cent of a much larger GDP. Does anybody believe that makes sense? We protect Europe (which is good) at great financial loss, and then get unfairly clobbered on trade. Change is coming.”

Clashes

His comments set the scene for renewed clashes between Mr Trump and other world leaders at a Nato summit next month.

Britain is one of the few member states that achieve Nato’s target of spending two per cent of its gross domestic product on defence.

The Prime Minister’s official spokesman said: “The long-standing position of the government is we are firmly committed to meeting the Nato two per cent target, and we encourage others to do the same.”

In the Commons, Mrs May acknowledged that the summit had been “difficult” and told MPs she had expressed her “deep disappointment” at the “unjustified” imposition of tariffs on American imports of European steel and aluminium.

Counter-measures

While making no direct criticism of Mr Trump, she left no doubt that EU nations will impose counter-measures on US goods in response. But she cautioned against tit-for-tat retaliation which might lead to a trade war.

Mrs May pointedly voiced her support for the rules-based international order which some commentators have accused Mr Trump of putting at risk.

“This was a difficult summit, with at times some very candid discussions,” Mrs May told MPs. “But the conclusion I draw is that it is only through continued dialogue that we can find ways to work together to resolve the challenges we face.

“The countries round the G7 table have been pillars of the rules-based international order which has benefited all our citizens and, I believe, the world as a whole.

“The United Kingdom, with our allies and partners, will continue to play our part in promoting that order to the benefit of all.”