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Theresa May to press EU leaders on defence spending Theresa May presses EU leaders on defence spending
(about 1 hour later)
The UK prime minister is to urge EU Nato members to spend more on defence. Theresa May is holding talks with EU Nato members as she attempts to build alliances ahead of Brexit.
At an informal summit in Malta, Theresa May will brief leaders on her recent talks in the US with Donald Trump, when he indicated his commitment to Nato. The prime minister arrived in the Maltese capital Valletta with a message that Europe must increase its defence spending, following her talks about the future of Nato with Donald Trump.
The UK is one of the few alliance members to meet pledges to spend a minimum of 2% of GDP on defence.The UK is one of the few alliance members to meet pledges to spend a minimum of 2% of GDP on defence.
Mrs May will also pledge continued UK help with Europe's migrant crisis - a focus for the summit - and to be a "reliable partner" after Brexit. Mrs May will also pledge UK help with the EU migrant crisis post Brexit.
She will argue that she wants a "new, positive and constructive" relationship with the EU after Brexit, Downing Street said. She will argue that she wants a "new, positive and constructive" relationship with the EU after Brexit - and will use one-to-one talks with German chancellor Angela Merkel and Spanish prime minister Mariano Rajoy to promise the UK will remain a "reliable partner".
She is also expected to stress that a strong EU is in the interests of the UK.She is also expected to stress that a strong EU is in the interests of the UK.
Mrs May is expected to leave Malta's capital Valletta after morning discussions and one-to-one talks with German Chancellor Angela Merkel and Spanish prime minister Mariano Rajoy Mrs May's visit comes two days after MPs voted to allow her to get Brexit negotiations under way.
The remaining EU leaders will discuss plans for a summit in Rome in March and the future of the EU. She is expected to have an informal "brush by" with Malta's prime minister, Joseph Muscat, who told the BBC's World Service that while he wants a "fair deal" for the UK after Brexit, it must be "inferior" to full EU membership.
On Thursday, the prime minister of Malta, Joseph Muscat, whose country holds the rotating European Council presidency, told the BBC's World Service he wants a "fair deal" for the UK after Brexit, but said it must be "inferior" to full EU membership. "No one wants the UK economy to suffer, I think this is a lose-lose situation," said Mr Muscat, whose country holds the rotating European Council presidency.
"No one wants the UK economy to suffer, I think this is a lose-lose situation," he said, adding that he also expects a transitional deal for Britain will be agreed quite easily. While he says he expects a transitional deal for Britain will be agreed quite easily, he stressed: "Now, in my book if you're not part of the single market, that is an inferior deal. But maybe for the British government if you're not part of the single market but get to control your borders that's a superior deal."
However, he stressed: "Now, in my book if you're not part of the single market, that is an inferior deal. But maybe for the British government if you're not part of the single market but get to control your borders that's a superior deal."
AnalysisAnalysis
By John Pienaar, BBC deputy political editorBy John Pienaar, BBC deputy political editor
Britain's strategic ambition to act as a bridge between Europe and the United States long predates Brexit, but it has now become a central component of the government's hopes of keeping and building influence in the world.Britain's strategic ambition to act as a bridge between Europe and the United States long predates Brexit, but it has now become a central component of the government's hopes of keeping and building influence in the world.
Theresa May will tell EU leaders of her particular achievement - as Downing Street sees it - in drawing a promise of a 100% commitment to Nato from Donald Trump, following earlier indications that his commitment to the Western alliance was wavering.Theresa May will tell EU leaders of her particular achievement - as Downing Street sees it - in drawing a promise of a 100% commitment to Nato from Donald Trump, following earlier indications that his commitment to the Western alliance was wavering.
But pressing for higher defence spending looks like a tough ask.But pressing for higher defence spending looks like a tough ask.
And her hopes of becoming a bridge - or honest broker - between the EU and the US won't be easily fulfilled either.And her hopes of becoming a bridge - or honest broker - between the EU and the US won't be easily fulfilled either.
Mr Trump is no supporter of the EU - he favours nation-to-nation relationships.Mr Trump is no supporter of the EU - he favours nation-to-nation relationships.
He's also mentioned the German leader Angela Merkel in the same breath as Vladimir Putin in discussing future relations, and the French President Francois Hollande has urged EU leaders to stand up to him.He's also mentioned the German leader Angela Merkel in the same breath as Vladimir Putin in discussing future relations, and the French President Francois Hollande has urged EU leaders to stand up to him.
Like much of the prime minister's post-Brexit mission, this strategic ambition is more easily conceived than carried out.Like much of the prime minister's post-Brexit mission, this strategic ambition is more easily conceived than carried out.
Mrs May's Nato message comes after Defence Secretary Sir Michael Fallon warned Russia was carrying out a sustained campaign of cyber attacks targeting democracy and critical infrastructure in the West. Mrs May was the first foreign leader to visit the Trump White House and she will use the European Council summit to tell Nato members they need to increase their spending on defence.
He said Russia was "clearly testing Nato and the West" and it was in Europe's interests to keep Nato strong to deter and dissuade Moscow.
Mr Trump had previously called the transatlantic alliance "obsolete", but Mrs May will tell EU leaders that at talks in the US last week, he confirmed he was "100% behind Nato".Mr Trump had previously called the transatlantic alliance "obsolete", but Mrs May will tell EU leaders that at talks in the US last week, he confirmed he was "100% behind Nato".
But while close trade and strategic ties with the Trump administration are central to Downing Street's plans for Britain after Brexit, relations between the White House and European leaders are already strained, after the US ban on refugees and visa holders from a number of mainly Muslim countries.But while close trade and strategic ties with the Trump administration are central to Downing Street's plans for Britain after Brexit, relations between the White House and European leaders are already strained, after the US ban on refugees and visa holders from a number of mainly Muslim countries.
'Sharing the burden''Sharing the burden'
Speaking at a joint press conference in Washington with President Trump last Friday, Mrs May said the burden of spending within Nato should be more "fairly shared".Speaking at a joint press conference in Washington with President Trump last Friday, Mrs May said the burden of spending within Nato should be more "fairly shared".
Nato estimates for 2016 show that only five alliance members - the US, UK, Greece, Poland and Estonia - will spend a minimum of 2% of national output (GDP) on defence, which is the target.Nato estimates for 2016 show that only five alliance members - the US, UK, Greece, Poland and Estonia - will spend a minimum of 2% of national output (GDP) on defence, which is the target.
Swedish foreign minister Margot Wallström told the BBC her country, which is an EU member but not a full Nato member, will not commit to the 2% target. However, Swedish foreign minister Margot Wallström told the BBC her country, which is an EU member but not a full Nato member, will not commit to the 2% target.
"No... We'll put together a parliamentary commission that will look into this and decide what priorities there should be on defence spending in the future," she told Radio 4's Today."No... We'll put together a parliamentary commission that will look into this and decide what priorities there should be on defence spending in the future," she told Radio 4's Today.
She also dismissed the suggestion President Trump could be brought on board by European countries if they committed to that 2% target, adding: "That means you will have to reduce other types of spending, so you'll always have to make a political choice.She also dismissed the suggestion President Trump could be brought on board by European countries if they committed to that 2% target, adding: "That means you will have to reduce other types of spending, so you'll always have to make a political choice.
"I really think we should invest in building peace and making sure that we have a political situation in Europe and the world that reduces the tensions and creates better chances for peace.""I really think we should invest in building peace and making sure that we have a political situation in Europe and the world that reduces the tensions and creates better chances for peace."
Mr Trump has said that Nato allies are over-reliant on the US and has questioned whether the US should defend any alliance partner, under Article 5, if so many of the 28 Nato members are not paying their way.Mr Trump has said that Nato allies are over-reliant on the US and has questioned whether the US should defend any alliance partner, under Article 5, if so many of the 28 Nato members are not paying their way.
But Ms Wallström said: "Sometimes it's an advantage of not being a member of Nato - we decide for ourselves. We decide also our own spending and budget."But Ms Wallström said: "Sometimes it's an advantage of not being a member of Nato - we decide for ourselves. We decide also our own spending and budget."
Mrs May is expected to depart from Valletta after morning discussions, leaving the remaining EU leaders to discuss plans for a summit in Rome in March and the future of the EU.