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Nato summit: David Cameron pledges troops to 'multinational' force | Nato summit: David Cameron pledges troops to 'multinational' force |
(35 minutes later) | |
The UK is ready to contribute 1,000 personnel to a new multi-national rapid reaction force, Prime Minister David Cameron has told the Nato summit. | The UK is ready to contribute 1,000 personnel to a new multi-national rapid reaction force, Prime Minister David Cameron has told the Nato summit. |
He said a proposed Nato "multinational spearhead force" could be deployed anywhere in two to five days. | He said a proposed Nato "multinational spearhead force" could be deployed anywhere in two to five days. |
Mr Cameron also said leaders were "united in condemnation" of "barbaric and despicable acts" carried out by militant group Islamic State (IS). | Mr Cameron also said leaders were "united in condemnation" of "barbaric and despicable acts" carried out by militant group Islamic State (IS). |
He spoke on the second day of the summit in the Welsh city of Newport. | He spoke on the second day of the summit in the Welsh city of Newport. |
'Instability arc' | 'Instability arc' |
"We face new and evolving dangers," Mr Cameron said. | "We face new and evolving dangers," Mr Cameron said. |
"To the east, Russia is ripping up the rulebook with its annexation of Crimea and its troops on the sovereign soil of Ukraine. | "To the east, Russia is ripping up the rulebook with its annexation of Crimea and its troops on the sovereign soil of Ukraine. |
"To the south, an arc of instability bends from North Africa to the Middle East." | "To the south, an arc of instability bends from North Africa to the Middle East." |
He said Nato "must be able to act more swiftly". | |
And he said the UK would contribute 3,500 to the rapid reaction force. | |
But Downing Street later clarified that the UK would be contributing 1,000 troops to the new force - not 3,500. It said the UK would be contributing 3,500 troops to Nato exercises in eastern Europe over the next two years. | |
And it said the new "spearhead force" would comprise of 4,000 troops overall, be led by a British general and would be ready to be deployed by the end of 2015. | |
During his speech, Mr Cameron said of the force: "This would be part of a reformed Nato response force with headquarters in Poland, forward units in the eastern allies and pre-positioned equipment and infrastructure to allow more exercises and, if necessary, rapid reinforcement." | |
'Almost pathological' | 'Almost pathological' |
Speaking about IS, which has threatened to kill British aid worker David Haines, he said: "They should be very clear these terrorists that their threats will only harden our resolve to stand up for our values and to defeat them." | Speaking about IS, which has threatened to kill British aid worker David Haines, he said: "They should be very clear these terrorists that their threats will only harden our resolve to stand up for our values and to defeat them." |
IS made its threat against Mr Haines - who was kidnapped in Syria in March 2013 - in a video of the beheading of US journalist Steven Sotloff. | IS made its threat against Mr Haines - who was kidnapped in Syria in March 2013 - in a video of the beheading of US journalist Steven Sotloff. |
On Friday, meanwhile, Foreign Secretary Philip Hammond said the British government would "not be diverted from doing what is right by the threats that this organisation is making". | On Friday, meanwhile, Foreign Secretary Philip Hammond said the British government would "not be diverted from doing what is right by the threats that this organisation is making". |
He spoke after it was reported that the family of hostage Mr Haines were worried British airstrikes in Iraq would put his life at greater risk. | He spoke after it was reported that the family of hostage Mr Haines were worried British airstrikes in Iraq would put his life at greater risk. |
On Thursday, Mr Cameron refused to rule out air strikes against IS, the militant group formerly known as Isil. | On Thursday, Mr Cameron refused to rule out air strikes against IS, the militant group formerly known as Isil. |
Mr Hammond told BBC News the British government was in contact with Mr Haines's family, adding: "What they're going through is awful and we will do everything we can to protect this individual. | Mr Hammond told BBC News the British government was in contact with Mr Haines's family, adding: "What they're going through is awful and we will do everything we can to protect this individual. |
"But we have to be clear about the nature of the organisation we are dealing with - they are utterly brutal, they are ideologically driven, almost pathological in the way they behave. | "But we have to be clear about the nature of the organisation we are dealing with - they are utterly brutal, they are ideologically driven, almost pathological in the way they behave. |
"We cannot allow our strategy to be driven by their behaviour. | "We cannot allow our strategy to be driven by their behaviour. |
"We have to approach the challenge of Isil focused purely on what is in Britain's best interests - protecting our citizens and our security from the threat that Isil poses from foreign fighters, from potential attacks on our soil, destabilisation of the region. | "We have to approach the challenge of Isil focused purely on what is in Britain's best interests - protecting our citizens and our security from the threat that Isil poses from foreign fighters, from potential attacks on our soil, destabilisation of the region. |
"We will not be diverted from doing what is right by the threats that this organisation is making." | "We will not be diverted from doing what is right by the threats that this organisation is making." |