"NATO calls on Britain to strengthen its air defense against ballistic missiles"

NATO will demand that the UK increase related spending as it sees the UK vulnerable to a possible ballistic missile attack, British media reported.

Britain's Sunday Times said NATO will officially call on Britain to strengthen its missile air defense this year, updating and announcing allied power requirements to strengthen its collective defense.

NATO's draft plan reportedly calls for Britain to expand its investment in ground-based air defense systems to defend key state infrastructure such as nuclear power plants and military bases.

Defence sources said a number of NATO allies had recently expressed dissatisfaction with the UK's insufficient contribution to protecting Europe from long-range missile attacks.

It also said the UK is at increasing risk of exposure to ballistic missile attacks, and the UK is vulnerable because it has not invested in air defense against ballistic missiles for decades, regardless of land, sea and air.

In particular, it noted the risk of ballistic missiles offered by Iran or Russia to proxy forces such as Yemen's Houthi rebels attacking British naval ships and militants attacking British military bases in Cyprus and other areas of conflict in the Middle East targeting Britain.