Concerns about the next US president’s commitment to NATO have been raised after he repeatedly complained about the alliance and said European states contribute too little.

The defence secretary has insisted Donald Trump is committed to NATO and is right to push other European nations to put more funding into the security alliance.

John Healey dismissed suggestions the US president-elect will pull out of NATO, the military alliance consisting of 30 European countries and the US and Canada, after previous reports Mr Trump has discussed doing so.

Mr Healey told Sky News: “I don’t expect the US to turn away from NATO.

“They recognise the importance of the alliance, they recognise the importance of avoiding further conflict in Europe.

“But, I do say, and I’ve argued for some time, that the European nations in NATO need to do more of the heavy lifting.”

He added that Mr Trump “rightly pushed European nations to do more to fund NATO better”.

The defence secretary said the US commitment to NATO remained through the previous Trump administration and he has no reason to think that support will discontinue during his second term.