However the report acknowledges that due to the significant differences in definitions regarding defence expenditure used by Sipri and Nato, the internationally recognised figures for defence spending, it complicates international comparisons.

The figures also do not take into account the multi-year settlement worth an extra 24billion that was awarded to the Ministry of Defence by Boris Johnson last November.

In comparison Nato figures for 2019 show UK spending was $59billion, Germany was $52 billion and France $50 billion.

Nicolas Baverez, economist and lawyer who contributes to the Institut Montaigne, said the 16 billion investment was a strong announcement by British government, but said they needed to clearly understand where these spendings will be made.

Mr Baverez also acknowledged that the Sipri data used in the report for France integrated pensions schemes and Gendamari. However, he cautioned that under French law the Gendarmerie has a military regime and is not governed by the same laws as the police.

Mr Baverez added that the decision to use Sipri instead of Nato data had been in order to show a world vision, and not one that is exclusive to Nato members.

Fundamentally, I believe its not a competition, its just to know if one country or the other is spending more on defence, Mr Baverez told The Daily Telegraph.

We dont have to fight on figures of GDP, we dont have to fight to know if its France, Germany or the UK who is spending more, the important thing is what do we have to do to secure security for European citizens and French citizens and for British citizens.

Malcolm Chalmers, deputy director general of the Royal United Services Institute, said based on NATO figures, Germany was increasing its military expenditure from a point where its behind.

If current trends continue Germany may overtake the UK sometime in the next three or four years, he said.

Francis Tusa, editor of Defence Analysis, said the UK needs to make sure we are not resting on our laurels. He added: The French are coming up on the inside very quickly.

An MOD Spokesperson said:We do not recognise the figures in this report. Based on official NATO rankings, the UK is the biggest European defence spender in the alliance with a budget of over 48bn this year.

The Ministry of Defences budget has also been strengthened with a substantial investment uplift of more than 24bn over the next four years agreed last November.

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France and Germany spend more on military than the UK, new report reveals - Telegraph.co.uk