UK defence cut could affect special relationship with US

[SpArK]

UK defence cut could affect special relationship with US

2010-09-13 18:50:00

The United States has reportedly warned the United Kingdom that inflicting deep cuts on the armed forces could threaten the 'special relationship' between the two countries.

According to the Telegraph, the Pentagon has told senior British officials that the US was worried that the cuts could widen the divide in military power and spending.

The warning could put new pressure Prime Minister David Cameron to limit planned cuts in Britain's defence capabilities.

It is believed that the 37 billion pounds a year defence budget could be cut by almost a fifth as the Treasury squeezes public spending.

Michele Flournoy, the under-secretary for policy at the Pentagon, had telephoned MoD's Strategy Director Tom McKane to raise the issue.

"The Americans are sympathetic, but it's fair to say they have some fairly serious concerns about where we will end up," the newspaper quoted a Whitehall source, as saying.

Meanwhile, Andy Smith, of the UK National Defence Association, said that the defence review was emerging as "a Treasury-led process" that could endanger the relationship with the US.

"The Americans have been alarmed about this for some time and rightly so. Our forces are already underfunded and struggling to keep up with up the Americans," Smith said. (ANI)

'UK defence cut could affect special relationship with US'

 

[SpArK]

Defence cut threat to the special relationship


Defence cut threat to the special relationship - Telegraph


Inflicting deep cuts on the Armed Forces could threaten the Special Relationship between Britain and the US, President Barack Obama’s defence department has warned the Government.


In private exchanges, the Pentagon told defence ministers and senior officials that the US was worried Britain’s cuts could widen the transatlantic divide in military power and spending.
The warning could put new pressure on the Treasury to limit planned cuts in Britain’s defence capabilities.


The National Security Council will soon meet to discuss the detailed impact of the cuts. The Daily Telegraph today begins a major series of articles examining the implications of the Strategic Defence and Security Review.


The review will reshape the nation’s defence strategy, and raise questions about Britain’s role in the world.
An agreement between Nato countries commits them to spending at least 2 per cent of their gross domestic product on defence. Britain is one of the few Nato members apart from the US that currently meets that goal.


The £37 billion a year defence budget could be cut by almost a fifth as the Treasury squeezes public spending and Dr Liam Fox, the Defence Secretary, struggles to pay for an unfunded “black hole” for new equipment.
Dr Fox is considering flying out to Washington to meet US officials to assuage their worries later this month, before the defence review ends.


Whitehall sources have disclosed that provisional estimates from MoD negotiations with the Treasury show core defence spending could fall below Nato’s 2 per cent standard — perhaps to as little as 1.7 per cent of GDP.


The US routinely spends more than 4 per cent of GDP on defence, and military analysts say the widening gap will make it harder for European forces to work with US forces equipped with ever more sophisticated equipment.
It is understood that a senior American official recently called the MoD to discuss “concerns” about the prospect of an even greater spending gap.



Michele Flournoy, the under-secretary for policy at the Pentagon, telephoned Tom McKane, the MoD’s strategy director, to raise the issue. “The Americans are sympathetic, but it’s fair to say they have some fairly serious concerns about where we will end up,” said a Whitehall source.



Robert Gates, the US defence secretary, has also discussed the coming cuts with Dr Fox. It is understood that he has told the Defence Secretary that the US believes it is vital that Britain retains its nuclear deterrent and its extensive intelligence-gathering operations.


He also underlined the American desire for Britain’s special forces units to be able to participate in US-led counter-terrorism operations.
Dr Fox, a passionate supporter of the Special Relationship, is said to be committed to allaying the American fears. As The Daily Telegraph reported on Saturday, special forces units are likely to be among the few winners from the defence review. Their numbers could rise, even though thousands of other service personnel face the axe.
However, some senior officers are worried that likely cuts in manpower will make it harder to maintain the elite quality of units such as the SAS.



The Trident nuclear deterrent is also set to be renewed, but work on a replacement weapons system could be delayed. Delaying the construction of new nuclear-armed submarines could allow Britain to synchronise its ship-building programme with America, which will start replacing its Trident submarines later this decade.
Insiders say Dr Fox and Mr Gates have a strong working relationship, and the US defence chief is keen to help his British counterpart deal with the impact of the cuts.


The National Security Council had been scheduled to start making decisions on cuts on Friday. However, the meeting will be rescheduled to avoid a clash with the funeral of David Cameron’s father.


Andy Smith, of the UK National Defence Association, said the defence review was emerging as “a Treasury-led process” that could endanger the relationship with the US. He said: “The Americans have been alarmed about this for some time and rightly so. Our forces are already underfunded and struggling to keep up with up the Americans.”


The MoD said: “The Defence Secretary has made clear that tough decisions will need to be made but the complex process of a Strategic Defence and Security Review will be concluded in the autumn and speculation at this stage about its outcome is entirely unfounded.”
More than 100 contracts totalling about £1.25 billion have been awarded for the construction of two new aircraft carriers. The figures were disclosed in a parliamentary answer after doubts were raised as to whether the Government would persist with the project, on which thousands of jobs in Scotland depend.

 

[Safriz]

The new government is already in deep trouble internally due to their rampant public sector and social security cuts...The peole who voted for them,such as myself are directly being effected by their heavy handed tactics and literally depriving the public of any benifits we can get from the hefty taxes we pay...
The best way to save was and still is defence budget cuts,as everybody knows where the billions of pounds are going and those expenses have no direct or even indirect benifit for orninary public..
USA is the hardest country to please and expensive to please...WOnt be too surprised if the get anry with Britain too without being considerate about why they have to cut the defence budget..

 

[Ras]

The new government is already in deep trouble internally due to their rampant public sector and social security cuts...The peole who voted for them,such as myself are directly being effected by their heavy handed tactics and literally depriving the public of any benifits we can get from the hefty taxes we pay...
The best way to save was and still is defence budget cuts,as everybody knows where the billions of pounds are going and those expenses have no direct or even indirect benifit for orninary public..
USA is the hardest country to please and expensive to please...WOnt be too surprised if the get anry with Britain too without being considerate about why they have to cut the defence budget..

The problem is too many benefits for too long...Europe is a sissy nanny state.

 

[AZADPAKISTAN2009]

lol .... never trust tony blair again

 

[Safriz]

The problem is too many benefits for too long...Europe is a sissy nanny state.

We got free medical and you dont..
Nah nah nah nah naah

I pay 27% income tax,then 17.5 % sales tax on everything i buy then i pay 90 pounds a month to the local council.
Collectively about 40% of my income goes in taxes..
I dont feel obliged to keep paying for an unnecessary war,which is USA's war not UK's.
I am not speaking as a muslim here,i am speaking as a British citizen.
UK is only paying back the debt of WWII when USA cam ein to help them against Germany.
But that debt has been overpaid already..

 

[anon45]

We got free medical and you dont..
Nah nah nah nah naah

I pay 27% income tax,then 17.5 % sales tax on everything i buy then i pay 90 pounds a month to the local council.
Collectively about 40% of my income goes in taxes..
I dont feel obliged to keep paying for an unnecessary war,which is USA's war not UK's.
I am not speaking as a muslim here,i am speaking as a British citizen.
UK is only paying back the debt of WWII when USA cam ein to help them against Germany.
But that debt has been overpaid already..

Then as a British citizen, you are aware around 60-70 UK citizens died in 9/11 right?

 

[below_freezing]

the UK should strive to retake its rebellious colonies. What a shame that the empire that the sun never set on is now reduced to a lapdog of the US begging for scraps.

if the British Empire still existed and controlled North America, it would be alot easier to deal with.

As for now though, UK can only hope that USA doesn't pull the plug on their Tridents. Things like that happen when your nuclear deterrent is controlled by another country.

 

[file12345]

Sir what do you mean?I don't understand?Plz elaborate.

 

[LongLiveBritian]

We are glad that tony blair has gone, we can say that but are economy isn't doing so good at the moment, but we will bounce back up once again.

 

[xdrive]

I don't see why the uk is considered a big military partner of the U.S. Australia now has a more powerful military then the uks.

 

[LongLiveBritian]

I don't see why the uk is considered a big military partner of the U.S. Australia now has a more powerful military then the uks.

Your post don't bother me, because as soon as are economy comes back up and running again it would be more powerful than australia.

 

[xdrive]

the UK should strive to retake its rebellious colonies. What a shame that the empire that the sun never set on is now reduced to a lapdog of the US begging for scraps.

You do realize that the UK hasn't received money from it's colonies since 1900? We live in 2010, not 1875.

"rebellious colonies"

 

[xdrive]

Your post don't bother me, because as soon as are economy comes back up and running again it would be more powerful than australia.

It wasn't written to "bother" you lol. The UK military has been shrinking since WW2.

 

[file12345]

I don't see why the uk is considered a big military partner of the U.S. Australia now has a more powerful military then the uks.

huh.When did Australian became more powerful than UK.Could you support your assessment from facts.