Donald Trump has warned that the West must decide if it has the “will to survive” in the face of threats from North Korea and Russia at a speech in Warsaw on Thursday.

"We have to remember that our defence is not just a community of money, it is a community of will," Mr Trump said.

"As the Polish experience reminds us, defence of the west rests not only on means but the will of people to prevail.

"The fundamental question is whether the West has the will to survive," he added.

"Do we have the confidence in our values to defend them at any cost? Do we have enough respect for our citizens to protect our borders?" If we do not have strong values we will be weak and we will not survive."

Europe-US bond is stronger than ever

"The transatlantic bond between the United States and Europe is as strong as ever, and maybe in many ways, even stronger," said Mr Trump as he extolled the virtues of the Polish people.

In a lengthy speech which recounted Poland's struggles under Nazi occupation and Communism, Mr Trump said the European country was a powerful "symbol of freedom."

His remarks came despite a string of spats with Angela Merkel, the German chancellor, over her refugee policy and the trade deficit with Germany.