Donald Trump is insistent that other Nato countries increase their military spending

Donald Trump asked the German chancellor Angela Merkel to pay what her country “owed” Nato for defending it when they met last weekend, German government sources have revealed.

The Sunday Times has calculated that the sum may exceed £300bn.

The demand — made during private talks in Washington — was described as “outrageous” by one German minister.

“The concept behind putting out such demands is to intimidate the other side, but the chancellor took it calmly and will not respond to such provocations,” the minister said.

Sources in Washington confirmed that a demand had been made. The White House denied that Trump presented an actual piece of paper.

Trump has criticised a number of Nato countries — Germany among them — for insufficient military spending,