RUSHES: NATO Summit: Ben Wallace interview

NATO Summit: Ben Wallace interview; SPAIN: Madrid: Ben Wallace MP (Defence Secretary) interview via Internet SOT 1/3 WHY DOES PM WANT MORE COUNTRIES TO CONTRIBUTE TO NATO ALLIANCE? - Was a target in 2014 / Everyone should contribute to at least 2% GDP to defence budgets Target welcomed / US lead that spending 4% / Britain also leading now / Wanted to make sure everyone does that / Sweden and Finland joining must also burden-share / Must show Putin we are a great organisation and that we help each other IS IT POSSIBLE WE MISS NATO TARGET OF SPENDING 2% OF GDP ON DEFENCE BECAUSE OF RISING INFLATION? - Not on current forecasts / I'm keen after 2024 to keep record defence spending because threat has changed / Russia invading Ukraine / Our investment should invest as threats change IS APPETITE THERE FOR DEFENCE SPENDING? - Yes everyone recognises dangers / Prime Ministers and chancellors must balance / Defence does need investment / Britain must lay groundwork PM WAS SPEAKING ON PLANE TO JOURNALISTS SAYING WE'RE DOING ENOUGH ON DEFENCE SPENDING. WHAT'S YOUR REACTION TO THAT? That's true / Enough is being spent / I'm keen after 2024 for this to continue / Important I make case for threat changing / More investment would meet threat