The Government’s national security review, due to be published before a NATO summit next week, will expand the definition to include economic stability, food prices, supply chains, crime and the internet.
It could allow the UK to hit NATO’s new defence spending target of 5% of GDP without committing any further public money.
Mark Rutte, NATO’s Secretary General, has proposed member states spend 3.5% on core defence activities and a further 1.5% on related infrastructure.
Ministers are considering meeting the latter target by spending money on roads, strengthening bridges and increasing runway capacity, the Telegraph understands.
Cyber, energy and telecommunications security projects will also be offset against the goal.
While NATO countries will still be required to hit 3.5% of core
defence spending each year – far higher than Sir Keir’s current pledge
of 3% by the next Parliament – the additional 1.5% will come from other
budgets....<<<Read More>>>....
