Fallon’s warning to Trump on Putin

DEFENCE Secretary Michael Fallon delivered a strong message to Donald Trump yesterday, warning him not to go soft on Vladimir Putin.

Mr Fallon used the first visit to America by a Cabinet Minister since Mr Trump’s victory to tell the US President-elect that ‘deterrence is essential’ in dealings with the Russian president.

His outspoken intervention reflects growing anxiety within the Government over Mr Trump’s indication that he planned to join forces with Russia to combat Islamic State, saying it would be ‘nice’ if the US and Russia could work together to ‘knock the hell out of’ the fighters.

Officials have also been alarmed by Trump’s comment that Nato was obsolete and his suggestion that the US would think twice about coming to the aid of any Nato ally under attack if it had not paid its ‘fair share’.

The remarks led to fears that they could encourage Putin to test Europe’s resolve: just two weeks ago, the Russian leader vowed to move nuclear-capable missiles closer to Europe.

Mr Fallon said: ‘You only have to visit Nato’s eastern flank to understand the acute sense of vulnerability that abounds. There’s no point pretending this is business as usual. Dialogue with Russia is useful. But deterrence is essential.’

Mr Fallon, who used his visit to announce a £100million deal with a US firm to develop high-tech RAF drones, also cited President Reagan’s warning: ‘Freedom is never more than one generation away from extinction’.

China last night lodged a formal complaint with the White House after Mr Trump’s phone call with Taiwan’s president Tsai Ing-wen, the first such talks since 1979. China’s foreign minister, Wang Yi, said that he hoped the call would not damage US-China relations.