Britain’s Defence Secretary Wes Streeting has said US President Donald Trump is absolutely right to demand higher defence spending from the UK, in a move that underlines the growing transatlantic pressure on European allies.

Streeting made the comments after a meeting of Joint Expeditionary Force defence ministers in Keflavik, Iceland. We want to be deterring Russia and other adversaries, and if deterrence fails, we’re ready to defeat our enemies, he said, according to The Independent.

Britain has committed to spending 3.5 per cent of GDP on defence by 2035, up from the current 2.6 per cent. The Chancellor is expected to add 5 billion pounds in defence funding in the Budget, according to Politic-News.Space.

A detailed blueprint to reach 3 per cent by 2030 was deferred to a 2027 review, QNC News reported.

The stance has exposed an internal Labour rift, with Prime Minister Andy Burnham cautioning that security cannot come at the expense of social security.