British Defence Secretary Wes Streeting has refused to say whether he trusts US President Donald Trump, insisting “we are in first impressions territory”.

Axar.az reports, citing the Independent, that however, the new defence secretary insisted that Europe would thank President Trump for forcing them to take responsibility for their own defence.

Asked if he trusts President Trump, Mr Streeting said: “I don't know him, but I do trust the United States. We're in first impressions territory. I've not even been in the job a week.”

However, he added that history would be kind to Mr Trump over the issue of defence and Europe.

“We don't always like what he says, we don't always like his methods, but I genuinely think when this period of history is written, Europe will thank President Trump for shaking us out of our complacency and forcing us to stand on our own two feet and end the period of over-reliance on the United States for defence.”