Europe canno longer rely on the United States"by default" and must rapidly increase defence spending, the former head of Britain's Armed Forces has warned.
In a major intervention, Gen Sir Nick Carter insisted Europe "should be a superpower, economically, politically and militarily"to protect itselfin the "evolving world order."
The warning appeared in a report published before a major security summit in Germany.
French president Emmanuel Macron urged Europe on Tuesday to "wake up" and behave like a major world power. He also accusedDonald Trumpof wanting to "dismember" the EU.
Mr Trump began handing over control of certain Nato bases on Tuesday following repeated threats to quit the alliance.
European Nato leaders announced a fresh Arctic mission designed to tackle the US president's security worries about the region.
Organisers of the Munich Security Conference issued a statement ahead of Mr Macron's comments, which also took aim at "demolition man" Mr Trump.
It said "the United States has largely abandoned the role of the 'leader of the free world" under the president and that the world was now in an era of "wrecking-ball politics".
John Healey, the Defence Secretary, said "demands on defence are rising", adding: "The UK is stepping up on European security and leading within Nato to boost our collective defence and deterrence."
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Source: Daily Express :: World Feed
