Europe must create its own military defence alliance as the US is not expected to remain in Nato if Donald Trump is elected as the next US president, an analyst has warned.
It comes after the former president suggested that US support for Ukraine would depend on other Nato members matching the donations if he was elected in November.
Harley Lippman, a foreign affairs analyst said Europe must move "forward not counting on America".
Lippman - who has been re-appointed to a US commission under Trump - met MP Tobias Ellwood and former senior Nato Commander Sir Richard Shirreff in the House of Commons amid concerns about the dangers of American isolationism.
"I'm not saying for certain that Trump will pull us out of Nato, but it's just too high a risk for Europe not to be prepared, because right now they're relying on America," Lippman told MailOnline.
"Europe has to go forward not counting on America staying in Nato. Europe has to have its own Nato."
He added that France has already hinted at a European military defence alliance as a precaution against Trump's threat to exit Nato.
During a meeting organised by the Henry Jackson Society think tank, attendees agreed that Trump could be likely to sign a deal with Russia.
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"Russia would get more of Ukraine than Ukraine wants and then, in another three years, Putin would come after Moldova and Georgia," Lippman said.
"He also certainly has his sights set on the Baltic Republics and Poland. And the problem with that is that no dictator in history has successfully conquered a neighbour and then just stopped."
Lippman warned that if Putin defeats Ukraine and then attacks a Nato country, it could end in World War three.
"To avoid WW3, you have to defeat Russia in Ukraine, and Europe cannot count on America to [have its back]," he added
His comments come after Trump told a campaign rally that Russia could "do whatever the hell they want" to any Nato country not meeting its financial obligations for defence.
"I wouldn't give [a penny] unless Europe starts equalising," Trump told Time magazine.
"If Europe is not going to pay, why should we pay? They're much more greatly affected. We have an ocean in between us. They don't."
