Donald Trump is RIGHT to demand other NATO members spend more on defence

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Stoltenberg voiced confidence in president-elect's commitment to Nato
Said he agreed that members should be spending more on defence
Trump repeatedly criticised NATO's failings during election campaign

By James Tapsfield, Political Editor For Mailonline

Published: 08:48 EST, 18 November 2016 | Updated: 10:50 EST, 18 November 2016

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Donald Trump is right to demand that NATO members spend more on defence, the alliance's chief has said.

Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg voiced confidence in the US president-elect's commitment as he urged other countries to contribute more.

The Republican billionaire repeatedly lambasted NATO's shortcomings during his successful campaign for the White House.

Nato secretary general Jens Stoltenberg has voiced confidence that Donald Trump will maintain America's commitment to the alliance

He pointed out that only a handful of the 28 members were hitting the target for 2 per cent of GDP to go on military spending - a small group that includes Britain.

As a result they are relying too heavily on America to pick up the slack.

Speaking at a conference in Brussels today, Mr Stoltenberg said: 'I am absolutely confident that President Trump will maintain U.S leadership in the alliance.'

Mr Stoltenberg said he had yet to speak to the new commander-in-chief, but would tell him that increasing European defence spending was one of his top priorities.

Pointing to failing states in North Africa, the threat from ISIS, and Russia's annexation of Crimea, he said: 'You have to increase defence spending when tensions go up.

'Stop the cuts and gradually increase (defence spending) to reach 2 percent (of economic output) is a very robust message.

'We have started to move, although there is a very long way to go.

Donald Trump (pictured meeting Japan's Prime Minister Shinzo Abe in New York this week) was critical of NATO during the US presidential election campaign

'I am certain that Trump will make this his top priority (for NATO).'

At a mini-summit with EU leaders in Berlin today, outgoing US President Barack Obama urged them to work with the Trump administration to resolve the conflicts in Syria and eastern Ukraine.

According to the White House, he urged Theresa May, German Chancellor Angela Merkel, French President Francois Hollande, Italian premier Matteo Renzi, and Spain's Mariano Rajoy to seek common ground.

The 'core values that define the United States and Europe as open democracies' remained solid, Mr Obama insisted.

At a mini-summit with EU leaders in Berlin today, outgoing US President Barack Obama urged them to work with the Trump administration to resolve the conflicts in Syria and eastern Ukraine