Barack Obama uses Germany visit to call for stronger Europe in face of Isis threat

President Barack Obama has issued an impassioned plea for Europe not to “doubt itself”, warning that the political fragmentation across the continent would have profound negative effects around the world.

Speaking ahead of a summit in Hannover with the leaders of France, Germany, Italy and the UK, Mr Obama said the United States needed a strong, united Europe to maintain international order.

He also reiterated his plea for European NATO allies to increase their defence spending to address Islamic State and other security threats.

The meeting discussed the threat posed to international security by Isis both in Syria, Iraq and most recently Libya.

The leaders agreed to give “full support” to the new Government of National Accord in Libya which could eventually include military action to tackle the growing influence of Isis in the country.

The meeting also discussed the migration crisis as well as the situation in Ukraine.

Speaking before the meeting started, on the last leg of his Middle East and European tour, Mr Obama appealed for Europe to have greater self confidence in its own achievements.

“If a unified, peaceful, liberal, pluralistic, free-market Europe begins to doubt itself, begins to question the progress that's been made over the last several decades, then we can't expect the progress that is just now taking hold in many places around the world will continue," he said.

"I've come here today to the heart of Europe to say that the United States and the entire world needs a strong and prosperous and democratic and united Europe.”

Obama said worries over Russia's annexation of Crimea and slow economic growth, particularly in southern Europe, had led to questions about integration on the continent and sparked destructive politics that stoked fears about immigrants and people with different religions.

“These are unsettling times and when the future is uncertain there seems to be an instinct in human nature to withdraw to the perceived comfort of our own tribe, our own sect, our own nationality: people who look like us, sound like us,” he said.

“But in today’s world more than in any time in our human history that is a false comfort. It pits people against one another because of what they look like, or how they pray or who they love.” Obama said that “twisted thinking can lead to oppression, segregation, internment camps and to Srebrenica”.

"This is a defining moment, and what happens on this continent has consequences for people around the globe.”

The president said Europe generally could do more to prepare for its own defence and to fight Islamic State. He repeated his call that NATO members step up their contributions and warned of a tendency to get complacent about defence needs.

"We need to stay nimble and make sure our forces are inter-operable and invest in new capabilities like cyber defence and missile defence," Obama said.

"That's why every NATO member should be contributing its full share, 2 per cent of GDP, towards our common security - something that doesn't always happen and, I'll be honest, sometimes Europe has been complacent about its own defence."