A UK “spending gap” on defence would be “a matter of concern for Nato”, a former secretary-general of the alliance has said.
Anders Fogh Rasmussen’s warning came amid a row over defence spending that saw John Healey quit as defence secretary.
Mr Healey resigned on June 11, citing a lack of funding for the long-delayed Defence Investment Plan (Dip) and arguing there was “no path” to reaching the Nato target of spending 3.5% of GDP on core defence by 2035.
Speaking to the Press Association on a visit to London, Mr Rasmussen declined to comment on the UK’s internal politics, but said: “A spending gap in the UK is a matter of concern for the rest of Nato.
“We have seen how the Spanish Prime Minister (Pedro) Sanchez has raised doubts of his commitments to the decision made at the Nato summit in The Hague and if there are doubts about the UK trajectory towards that goal, it is a matter of concern in other countries.”
But he added the UK was “a reliable partner when it comes to defence and security” that was still “playing an important role” in Nato.
Ministers have repeatedly said the Dip will be published before the Nato summit that begins in Ankara on July 7 and the Government remains committed to meeting the alliance’s spending target.
On Tuesday, Mr Healey’s successor, Dan Jarvis, told a defence conference in London he had already assured current Nato secretary-general Mark Rutte that the target would be met “and a credible plan will be produced to ensure that it is”.
But he conceded that he had “a job of work to do to map out that trajectory” to 3.5% by 2035.
Last year’s Nato summit in The Hague saw allies including the UK agree to spend 5% of GDP on defence under pressure from Donald Trump, who had cast doubt on US support for the alliance and accused European nations of freeloading on American defence.
Spain was the only country to secure an opt-out, capping spending at 2.1% instead – up from its current level of around 1.2%.
The target includes an agreement to spend 3.5% of GDP on “core defence” and another 1.5% on measures to boost national resilience by 2035.
Mr Rasmussen said he expected next month’s Nato summit in Ankara to see allies asked to present “a clear plan and a timeline” for reaching the 5% target.
But pointing to warnings Russia could be ready to attack Nato as early as 2030, he told PA the 2035 target was “too weak” and “should be much faster”.
He said Nato should look to spend at least 3.5% of GDP on core defence by 2030, adding: “As an example, the new Danish government has decided to reach 3.5% by 2030, so it is realistic and a number of Baltic states have done the same.”
As a former Danish prime minister, he said he understood that this was “a challenge for all governments” who faced either cutting spending or raising taxes to meet the target.
But he added: “I understand very well that many ministers of finance would say, if you are broke, you’re not safe.
“That’s true, I understand that very well, but my whole point is if you don’t invest sufficiently in defence, if you don’t spend enough, if you don’t do it fast enough and if you don’t spend the money on the right things, then you are not safe.
“So you have to find the right balance, and I think this will be the focal point in Ankara.”
Mr Rasmussen also called for a discussion at the Ankara summit of what areas defence spending should focus on, saying: “We’re not spending on the right stuff.”
He said: “Where to invest will be put in a much stronger focus now.
“We have seen how Ukraine has been able to develop new military capabilities, drones and other high-tech military capabilities, that are very efficient.
“They are less expensive than what I would call the legacy military capabilities. They can be produced much, much faster, and actually, they have demonstrated high efficiency.
“Today, more people are killed by drones than by artillery in Ukraine.”
As with last year’s Nato summit, the meeting in Ankara will be overshadowed by doubts about the USA’s commitment to the alliance.
Since the start of the year, Mr Trump has threatened to annex Greenland, which belongs to Nato ally Denmark, and has criticised allies for their refusal to provide military support for his attack on Iran.
Last week, US defence secretary Pete Hegseth announced a review of American military forces in Europe at a meeting of Nato defence ministers, criticising members who “have yet to show a credible path” towards meeting their spending commitments.
But Mr Rasmussen, who was outspoken in his criticism of the US over Mr Trump’s threats to take Greenland, said he was optimistic about the future of the alliance and confident that issues with the US would be resolved.
While acknowledging that the alliance was “challenged”, he said statements at this month’s G7 summit had been “encouraging”.
He told PA: “You have seen joint statements on Ukraine and continued American commitment, while at the same time we realise in Europe that we have to do more.
“I think President Trump has realised the connection between Iran and Russia. He knows very well that the conflicts may be interlinked, and as he is struggling with Iran, Russia has actually supported and is supporting Iran.
“So I think that has also sharpened the view of President Trump.”
But he also suggested a new “coalition of the willing” within Nato, led by Britain and France that included European nations and Ukraine, providing a “strong European-led nuclear deterrence in addition to the overall American nuclear umbrella”.
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