By Daily Mail (World News) | Created at 2025-03-26 12:40:34 | Updated at 2025-04-05 02:53:16
1 week ago
Donald Trump's team have 'absolutely got a case' when they branded European nations as 'pathetic freeloaders' in private messages, the UK Defence Secretary has admitted.
John Healey said he regards comments from his US counterpart Pete Hegseth and Vice President JD Vance as a 'challenge' and that Britain is 'leading the way' in boosting defence spending.
Leaked messages on Monday showed Vance lamenting having to 'bail out Europe again' as US officials discussed military action that would unblock trade routes in the Suez Canal, where 40 per cent of European trade runs through compared to three per cent of US trade.
Hegseth subsequently said he shared the 'loathing of European freeloading' and claimed the situation was 'pathetic'.
Last night Trump agreed with the comments, asking why Europe is 'in for $100billion, and we're in for $350billion' on aid for Ukraine.
In January the US President called on all NATO members to ramp up defence spending to five per cent of GDP.
Most European leaders see this as unrealistic in the short term, although UK Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer recently announced the UK would be increasing spending from 2.3 to 2.5 per cent by 2027.
The US currently commits 3.7 per cent of its GDP to defence spending.
Healey told Times Radio: 'The Americans have got a case, the Americans have absolutely got a case that on defence spending'
Vance and Hegseth branded European nations as 'pathetic freeloaders' in private messages
The messages were leaked after a journalist was mistakenly added to a group chat with top Trump officials
Last night Trump agreed with the comments, asking why Europe is 'in for $100billion, and we're in for $350billion' on aid for Ukraine
This morning the Defence Secretary admitted that the Americans have 'got a case' when it comes to demanding Europe does more for its security.
Healey told Times Radio: 'The Americans have got a case, the Americans have absolutely got a case that on defence spending, on European security, on our support for Ukraine, European nations can and will do more and the UK is leading the way.
'I'm proud of that on defence spending, on European security and on Ukraine. It's why we're pulling together the coalition.
'The UK is pulling together the coalition of the willing in the circumstances which I hope we can secure of a negotiated peace settlement.
'We're responding to that American challenge for European nations to do more to support Ukraine and we are.
'And we're responding to the requirements of the Ukrainians to say in the circumstances of a ceasefire what security guarantees have we got that we won't have Russia reinvading.'
He later told LBC Radio: 'I think the Americans have a point.
'It's actually an argument I've been making for nearly four years, that European nations in NATO have to do more of the heavy lifting.
'And I think you've seen the UK go into the last election with a unique commitment to increase defence spending, which we're doing three years earlier than anyone thought.
'So, we're leading on defence spending, we're leading on European security, we're leading on the support for Ukraine. And this is the challenge the Americans are rightly putting on Europe within NATO.'
Starmer recently announced the UK would be increasing defence spending from 2.3 to 2.5 per cent by 2027
Shapps urged the Prime Minister to 'remind the US that the UK led from the front' when it came to taking action against the Houthi rebels and protecting ships in the Red Sea
Healey was on the airwaves this morning announcing a £2.2billion defence spending uplift for next year which will go towards 'advanced weaponry' and 'better homes for military families'.
His Conservative predecessor Grant Shapps said he 'agreed that Europe must do more on security' but urged the Prime Minister to 'remind the US that the UK led from the front' when it came to taking action against the Houthi rebels and protecting ships in the Red Sea.
He added: 'Our forces risked their lives to protect trade. Some in DC need reminding.'
Earlier today Liberal Democrat Mike Martin, who sits on the Parliamentary Defence Select Committee, said the Chancellor is being 'forced' into higher defence spending by global events rather than being on the front foot.
He said: 'It has been obvious for some time that we should be spending a lot more on defence.
'Ministers themselves say our forces are hollowed out and yesterday the Minister for the Armed Forces told the Defence Select Committee that there was still work to do for the UK to be able to fight a war.
'We need to get real and recognise that the world has changed massively and we have to have a sustained increased in defence spending rather than being dragged into ad hoc increases.'
Yesterday Prime Minister's official spokesperson rejected Vance and Hegseth's allegations that the UK and European allies do not pull their weight when it comes to international security.
Healey today announced a £2.2billion defence spending uplift for next year which will go towards 'advanced weaponry' and 'better homes for military families'
The Defence Secretary held a press conference with other European Defence Ministers earlier this month as they discussed military support for Ukraine
He said: 'You can see from the way in which the UK has worked closely with the US for a long time our commitment to working with the US on matters of regional security.
'We'll continue to work with the US and other allies to ensure security and stability in the Middle East.'
Yesterday a YouGov poll revealed that almost a third of British voters agree with them, however.
Just 35 per cent of Britons, including 46 per cent of Labour voters, feel the continent is pulling its weight, with 30 per cent disagreeing and the remaining 35 per cent unsure.
Conservative voters are the most likely to feel Europe is underperforming, with 43 per cent of Tories suggesting leaders must do more in military and financial terms.
