The MP for Slough and chairman of parliament's defence committee has congratulated Donald Trump on his victory in the US presidential election - as well as warning of the 'growing threat' of Russia. 

On Wednesday morning, former President Trump secured the required 270 electoral college votes needed to make him the next president of the United States. 

As of midday, the Republican politician had secured more than 71 million votes - compared with 66 million votes cast for his opponent, Democrat Kamala Harris. 

On the campaign trail, Trump repeatedly said he could settle the war started by Russia's invasion of Ukraine in one day - as well as stating that Russia's president Vladimir Putin could ‘do whatever the hell they want’ to any NATO country that appeared to skimp on defence spending. 

During his first term, Trump was impeached for improperly seeking help from Ukraine's government to boost his chances of re-election in 2020. 

Now Slough MP Tan Dhesi has congratulated President-elect Trump - and issued a reminder on the importance of NATO. 

Mr Dhesi, who was appointed as the chairman of the House of Commons Defence Select Committee last month, said: "On behalf of the House of Commons Defence Committee, I'd like to congratulate President-elect Trump on his election victory. The US is - and will remain - the UK's closest ally, particularly when it comes to military cooperation and defence. 

"NATO, of which the US and the UK are founding members, is the greatest military alliance the world has ever seen and is integral to global peace and security. Its strength is our strength. The UK will doubtless continue to advocate for a closer, stronger NATO. 

"The question of how the UK will modernist its defence capabilities, improve its readiness, and provide a credible conventional deterrence in the response to the growing threat posed by Russian and other actors seeking to destabilise the rules-based international order will  without a doubt - feature prominently in the Defence Committee's work in coming months."