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Boris Johnson: UK's commitment to Nato is 'rock solid' Nato summit: PM hails 'solidarity' after anniversary talks
(about 4 hours later)
The UK's commitment to Nato is "rock solid", Boris Johnson has told leaders of the military alliance. Boris Johnson has hailed Nato as "the most successful alliance in history" after talks with leaders near London.
He and other leaders, including US President Trump, are meeting for talks at a luxury hotel near Watford. The PM insisted there was "very great solidarity" within the alliance, amid tensions on its 70th anniversary.
Last night, the PM held a meeting with Donald Trump at No 10, amid deepening divisions between member states. He also praised the role of the United States, adding the country had been a "pillar of stability" on security issues.
Labour says it would ensure Nato focused on implementing "real defence" not "the aggressive militarism that we've seen in the past." Jeremy Corbyn said he wanted to ensure Nato focused on reducing "tensions around the world".
Speaking to the gathering of the military alliance to mark 70 years of the organisation, Mr Johnson said Nato provides "a giant shield of solidarity that now protects 29 countries and nearly a billion people". Leaders of the 29-member military alliance have been discussing shared security issues at a special meeting to mark 70 years since its formation.
"The fact that we live in peace today demonstrates the power of the simple proposition at the heart of this alliance: that for as long as we stand together, no-one could hope to defeat us - and therefore no-one will start a war. In a statement issued after talks at a luxury resort near Watford, leaders acknowledged the "challenges" posed by China and Russia, and pledged to take "stronger action" against terrorism.
"This essential principle is enshrined in Article 5 of the North Atlantic Treaty - that if any one of us is attacked, all of us will go to their defence. If Nato has a motto, it is, 'one for all, and all for one'." On Tuesday, Nato Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg said countries in the alliance had added $130bn (£100bn) to defence budgets since 2016, and that this number would increase to $400bn by 2024.
The Shadow International Trade Secretary, Barry Gardiner, said Labour were also committed to Nato, but the nature of warfare had changed and the alliance had to adapt. US President Donald Trump has frequently criticised how much other allies spend on defence.
"The way you defend the country is to make sure you don't go on foreign wars and you don't start bombing before you start thinking," he said, adding that Mr Corbyn had been on the "right side of history" on previous foreign policy issues such as the Iraq war. Speaking to reporters at a press conference afterwards, Mr Johnson said member countries were making "real progress" towards meeting a target to spend 2% or more of their economic output on defence.
Labour was determined to put the question of how to tackle emerging threats such as cyber warfare "at the heart of Nato", he added. Asked whether President Trump was good for the UK, the prime minister said the US had always "should shoulder to shoulder" with the country.
Although Labour's manifesto pledges to maintain the UK's commitment to Nato, former Foreign Secretary Jeremy Hunt has accused the Labour leader of wanting to "dismantle" it. He added that the country's response after the Salisbury poisonings last year had been a "fantastic testament to the transatlantic alliance".
He said the Labour leader was "anti-Nato and anti-western" adding that the election of a Corbyn-led government would be "a body blow" to the alliance. 'Changed its focus'
Mr Corbyn has previously attacked the organisation "as a danger to peace", but has more recently said "I don't think there is an appetite for people to leave Nato." Pressed directly to comment on Mr Trump as a leader, Mr Johnson said the administration he leads "could not have been more supportive".
In addition to meeting Mr Trump, the prime minister held talks with German Chancellor Angela Merkel, French President Emmanuel Macron and Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan on Tuesday to discuss Syria, Libya and counter-terrorism. Also speaking to reporters on Wednesday, the Labour leader said his party was committed to remaining part of the alliance, adding it was "important to be part of".
He has faced questions over whether he was avoiding a one-to-one meeting with Mr Trump, over concerns it could blow his election campaign off course. "I think we'll have to contribute to world peace through Nato and any other alliance, principally through the United Nations," he added.
But Downing Street said the two men had a low-key, off camera meeting. Although Labour's manifesto pledges to maintain the UK's commitment to Nato, Mr Johnson accused Labour of wanting to "destroy" it.
Speaking as he arrived in Hertfordshire for the Nato meeting, the prime minister said he had held "a very good meeting" with Mr Trump discussing the future of Nato, Syria and other security matters. Mr Corbyn has previously attacked the organisation "as a danger to peace", but on Wednesday said: "We have decided we'll remain in Nato as a party, and that's it."
The US president also tweeted about the meeting. He added that he thought Nato was going in the "wrong" direction back in 2011, but the alliance has since "changed its focus".
The Queen also hosted a reception at Buckingham Palace - attended by US President Trump - ahead of the Downing Street gathering. On Tuesday evening, leaders attended receptions at Downing Street and at Buckingham Palace.
Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn - who said he intended to ask the US president for "reassurances" that the NHS would be "off the table" in post-Brexit trade talks - was there too, but he did not have an opportunity to speak to him. The prime minister held talks with German Chancellor Angela Merkel, French President Emmanuel Macron and Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan to discuss Syria, Libya and counter-terrorism at No 10.
He had faced questions over whether he was avoiding a one-to-one meeting with Mr Trump, over concerns it could blow his election campaign off course, but Downing Street said the two men had a low-key, off camera meeting.
Later in the evening, Mr Johnson was filmed chatting with a group of leaders during a reception at Buckingham Palace - they appeared to be discussing the US president.
Mr Johnson said it was "complete nonsense" to suggest he did not take Donald Trump seriously after the video emerged.
President Trump has cancelled a planned press conference, telling reporters: "We'll go directly back. I think we've done plenty of news conferences."
Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn - who said he intended to ask the US president for "reassurances" that the NHS would be "off the table" in post-Brexit trade talks - was also at the reception, but says he did not have an opportunity to speak to him.
Speaking at a press conference earlier in the day, Mr Trump had said he wanted "absolutely nothing to do with" the NHS, adding he would not touch it even if it was handed to his administration "on a silver platter".Speaking at a press conference earlier in the day, Mr Trump had said he wanted "absolutely nothing to do with" the NHS, adding he would not touch it even if it was handed to his administration "on a silver platter".
Asked whether he could work with Mr Corbyn as prime minister, he said he could "work with anybody", although earlier he said he thought Mr Johnson would do a "good job".Asked whether he could work with Mr Corbyn as prime minister, he said he could "work with anybody", although earlier he said he thought Mr Johnson would do a "good job".