British Defense secretary Michael Fallon has defended the Government's military strategy and spending, saying that "no country in Europe is playing such a strong global role".

Writing in the Sunday Telegraph he said the UK was “in it for the long term” when it came to Nato and deterring Russia, also hailing British operations against Islamic State (Isis) and humanitarian missions.

He said: “No country in Europe is playing such a strong global role. We can do this because we maintain a £34bn defense budget, the fifth biggest in the world.

“And we can only go on spending on defense because our government is growing our economy and bringing our public finances back into balance.”

Fallon’s piece comes after David Cameron was forced to dismiss claims that Britain’s role on the world stage was “shrinking” after Obama raised concern that UK defense spending was set to fall below the Nato target.
In February Britain confirmed that it would make available 1,000 troops to Nato’s Very High Readiness Joint Task Force (VJTF) to bolster the security of the alliance’s eastern flanks in the Baltic.

In his Telegraph article, Fallon also highlighted the role of soft power in tackling the causes of instability, while also highlighting areas of military spending, including aircraft carriers and submarines.

“It means using our soft power, diplomacy and engagement, to help weaker countries build stronger institutions and law enforcement, and to promote women’s rights,” he said.