UK needs 'credible path' on defence spending, says Nato chief

Nato chief Mark Rutte has said he is confident the UK government understands the need for a "credible path" to increase defence spending.

The alliance's secretary general told the BBC he was "absolutely confident" in the UK's commitment to hit a Nato-wide spending target of 3.5% of GDP by 2035.

Speaking after meetings in London, he said British ministers accepted the need to make yearly steps towards hitting the target.

But he accepted that the exact "pathway" towards the goal would not be set out until next year.

Andy Burnham has followed predecessor Sir Keir Starmer in committing to reach Nato's 3.5% spending target by 2035, up from an estimated 2.6% this year.

He has said date for reaching a planned 3% interim target will come next spring, when the long-term budgets of government departments are due to be set.

But he has faced pressure to immediately commit to reaching the milestone by the end of the decade. His chancellor and ex-defence secretary John Healey has previously argued this would show Britain was serious about the Nato goal.

Former Dutch PM Rutte has been encouraging members of the alliancenot to pencil in large spending increases shortly before the deadline.

Speaking to BBC political editor Chris Mason after meeting Defence Secretary Wes Streeting and Foreign Secretary Ed Miliband in London, Rutte said he was confident British ministers understood the 2035 target could not be met "in one go in 2034".

"I am absolutely confident that when it comes to the 3.5[%] they are there," he said.

"I am absolutely confident that when it comes to the yearly increments, they totally take it and accept it, that they have to be there.

"There has to be a credible path. What that credible path exactly will be, we will see with the spending review next year," he added.

Rutte also said that defence spending should be separated out from the issue of welfare, adding that economic growth was the key to ensuring military commitments could be met alongside spending in other areas.

The Conservatives have been pushing for hikes in defence spending to be funded through cuts to benefits, and have criticised Burnham for saying last week that national security "can't come at the expense of social security".

Rutte added: "I don't know all the details of the UK economy, I think this is something this government is now navigating," he added.

"But I would say these are two separate issues."

"One is, indeed, spending on defence, but the other is of course making sure that the economy is growing enough, so you can distribute the success of a growing economy amongst various income groups, various issues in the Budget, for example welfare and healthcare and the pensions."

"You have to do it all, and if you want to do it successfully, you need economic growth," he added.

"Of course there are issues. I've been prime minister myself for 14 years. You have to take tough decisions, and it's not always easy."

Elsewhere in his interview, Rutte said recent Russian military activity in western Ukraine which saw Poland close two of its airports on Thursday showed Vladimir Putin was "increasingly desperate" over his prospects for the war.

Asked about the possibility of a Russian attack that could demand a Nato response, he replied: "If you are willing to sacrifice 1.2 million of your own people in this crazy unprovoked fight, let's not be naïve about what Putin could do."

He also said there would be discussions among Nato allies over how to respond to the situation in the Red Sea, where Iran-aligned Houthis recently seized control of parts of Yemen's coast along the important shipping route.

Saudi Arabia has relied on the Red Sea for oil exports since the US and Israel's war effectively closed the Strait of Hormuz.

"I would not be surprised if some phone calls were taking place between European allies, 'hey, how are we going to deal with this?'" he added.

"Let's see what happens, and if Nato can help, we will always be helpful".

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