Britain’s Cameron calls for increased NATO spending amid Ukraine conflict

(Reuters) – British Foreign Secretary David Cameron on Wednesday called on NATO allies to increase defense spending and production in support of Ukraine amid the ongoing Russian invasion of Ukraine.

“Allies need to move forward and spend more on defense in the face of continued Russian aggression and a more dangerous world,” Cameron will say in a speech marking NATO’s 75-year history since its founding on April 4, 1949. “

British ministers will ask allies to support a British-led initiative to procure NATO standard missiles and munitions for the Ukrainian armed forces. Britain has spent billions of dollars supporting Ukraine since the invasion began in 2022.

Cameron said, “With Ukraine closer to NATO than ever, we must continue to provide the vital support Ukraine needs to win the war.”

Speaking at the NATO foreign ministers’ meeting, Cameron will also welcome Swedish Foreign Minister Tobias Billström to the NATO alliance.

Sweden officially joined NATO earlier this month, two years after Russia’s invasion of Ukraine forced it to rethink its national security policy and conclude that support for the alliance would protect the Scandinavian nation. Had the best guarantee.

Cameron also pointed to NATO’s commitment to integrating Ukraine into the alliance, reaffirming the consensus of all allies on Ukraine’s future NATO membership.

In February, Britain announced a new package of sanctions against Russia and said it wanted to reduce Russian President Vladimir Putin’s weapons arsenal and war chest.

(Reporting by Surabhi Mishra in Bengaluru; Editing by Chris Reese)

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