France and Germany pledged increases in defence spending as European leaders face mounting pressure from Donald Trump to pay more for their own defence ahead of this week’s Nato summit.

Amid fears that Mr Trump may be planning to scale down the US military presence in Europe, Emmanuel Macron will sign into law a €16 billion (£14 billion) boost in France’s military budget on Friday.

French defence spending will rise gradually over the next seven years to meet the Western military alliance’s target of 2 per cent of GDP.

As Nato leaders prepare for the two-day summit opening on Wednesday in Brussels, Angela Merkel renewed her pledge at the weekend that Germany would also increase its defence budget to meet the target in future years, but she gave no date.

Mr Trump’s decision to schedule an additional summit with Vladimir Putin on July 16 in Helsinki at a time of heightened tensions between Russia and the EU has further alarmed Nato allies.

Mr Macron’s approval ratings are sinking amid criticism that he is weak on security and immigration, and he will sign the new armed forces budget at the defence ministry on the eve of the traditional Bastille Day military parade.