Boris Johnson hails NATO alliance as he hosts world leaders for historic 70 year anniversary summit

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BORIS Johnson hailed NATO as he arrived to host world leaders for its 70th anniversary summit this morning.

The PM described Britains commitment to the alliance as rock solid before greeting Donald Trump and others in Watford.

Boris Johnson has hailed NATO as he arrived to host world leaders for its 70th anniversary summit

‘ALL FOR ONE, ONE FOR ALL’

Mr Johnson said: The reason NATO is so successful, is that it provides peace and security for 29 countries, its very simple.

It’s safety in numbers.

One for all, one for one – thats the core of the NATO security guarantee, it works.

Mr Johnsons effort to bring harmony to Nato comes after the US President and Emmanuel Macron endured frosty relations yesterday.

The French premier called Nato brain dead prompting Mr Trump to describe his comments as very nasty before the pair met on Tuesday at the US ambassador’s residence in London.

Mr Macron’s original comments were prompted by the Turkish offensive against the Kurds in northern Syria – regarded by most NATO members as key allies in the fight against ISIS – following the US decision to withdraw troops from the region.

FROSTY RECEPTION

Mr Macron later acknowledged in a tweet that his statements had “triggered some reactions” but stood by his remarks.

Todays meeting at a hotel in Hertfordshire is expected to consider new threats, including in the areas of cyber and space, after the alliance last month declared space one of its operational domains alongside air, land, sea and cyber.

Mr Johnson is expected to remind the allies that their commitment to NATO has helped keep people across the globe safe since its inception in 1949.

PROTECTING THE WORLD

He will say that the “doctrine of coming to one another’s aid” was the “single most important explanation” for why the British people and hundreds of millions of others lived in peace and freedom.

“Everything our peoples hold dear – from liberty and democracy to their jobs, homes, schools and hospitals – would not be secure and could not flourish without the peace that NATO is designed to guarantee,” the Tory boss will add.

But the PM warned that peace “cannot be taken for granted” and said NATO members must “ensure our deeds match our words”.

He is set to lay out the UK’s own contribution to NATO’s defence ranks and highlight the “emerging threats” faced by the alliance, such as cyber warfare.

Mr Johnson is preparing to say: “For the UK’s part, we spend over 2% of GDP on defence.

“We are making the biggest contribution of any European ally to NATO’s readiness initiative by offering an armoured brigade, two fighter squadrons and six warships, including the Royal Navy’s new aircraft carriers.

“As allies and friends, we must never shy away from discussing new realities, particularly NATO’s response to emerging threats like hybrid warfare and disruptive technologies including space and cyber.”

Dutch PM Mark Rutte arrives at the summit this morning
Boris speaks to reproters ahead of the summit this morning
Trump looked uncomfortable as they shook hands