Hutton to Tell Germany: Take Bigger Nato Role

The defence secretary, John Hutton, will today send out a blunt warning to Germany that it needs to adopt a new policy towards Afghanistan and Nato if the alliance is not to decline rapidly into an irrelevance.

His remarks in a speech in Berlin represent the start of a coordinated assault on the need for Germany to take a more interventionist role in Afghanistan. He will also warn Germany that it must become one of the biggest contributors to the Nato defence budget and must not use the credit crunch as an excuse to hack back its defence spending commitments.

US president-elect Barack Obama has made Afghanistan his chief diplomatic and military objective, and intends to demand far greater sharing of the burden, especially from Germany.

Hutton will warn: "Success in Afghanistan is fast emerging as the test of Nato's relevance in this new post-cold war age, a test that we must pass because the security of all members depends upon it.

"If Nato does not adapt to cope with modern conflict, if individual members do not work to make this happen, Nato will risk being irrelevant, a talking shop where process is everything and progress is avoided."

In a veiled reference to Germany, he will say: "Ad-hoc coalitions of the willing that form outside the Nato structure are a growing reality. But if they become the security vehicle of choice, then Nato will have failed."