Report: European countries spending more on defence but 'much remains to be done'

European nations have boosted their defences in response to the annexation of the Crimean Peninsula in 2014 and Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, a London-based think tank has said.

But a report released by the International Institute for Strategic Studies says much remains to be done before European countries are fully ready to face down further threats from Russia.

"NATO has not just significantly increased its ambitions regarding its deterrence and war-fighting posture, but European members have sought to address critical capability and readiness shortfalls," part of the report, released at the start of a three-day gathering in Prague to discuss European and transatlantic military capabilities, said.

"Unsurprisingly, however, after decades of neglect and underinvestment, much remains to be done and progress has been mixed."

The assessment was released as European leaders, including NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte, were rethinking their trans-Atlantic relations in Budapest, in the hope that Donald Trump's second presidency will avoid the strife of his first administration and maintain a strong common stance on Russia.

Ben Schreer, the executive director of IISS-Europe, said that European defence is "at the most critical time" now.

"The US election will add even more pressure on European nations to invest more in their own defences but at the same time considering how to continue to help Ukraine win this war," he said.

During his election campaign, Trump threatened actions that could have ground-breaking consequences for nations across Europe, from a trade war with the EU to a withdrawal of NATO commitments and a fundamental shift of support for Ukraine in its war with Russia.

During his first term in the White House from