"Everyone should play their part - and pay their part." The defence secretary told Sky News that western nations were in “an existential battle” with autocratic states like Russia and needed to massively boost the amount of money they spend on the military. AdvertisementHe said: “Everyone should play their part and pay their part.”His comments echo those of the former US president, who has repeatedly said that some Nato countries do not spend enough on defence. Referring to the war in Ukraine, Shapps told Sunday Morning with Trevor Phillips: “We have to understand we are in an existential battle about the way that we run the world order, about democracy itself. We’ve now raised that to 2.5%, but meantime only two-thirds of Nato countries have got to the 2%.

Source: Huffington Post May 19, 2024 16:26 UTC