Britain's Prime Minister Theresa May leaves 10 Downing Street in London, Britain, June 20, 2018. REUTERS/Toby Melville
Daily Mail: May 'privately admitted Britain is no longer a top-tier military force' as row over defence spending escalates
* Theresa May challenged Defence Secretary Gavin Williamson over the military
* Report said she questioned him on whether Britain should rethink its capabilities
* Intervention said to have caused 'shockwaves' inside the Ministry of Defence
Theresa May questioned Britain's role as a top tier military power in private talks with her Defence Secretary and military chiefs, it was claimed today.
The Prime Minister challenged Gavin Williamson to just why Britain needed to stay as a 'tier one' power holding nuclear weapons and with Army, Navy and Air Force assets it can deploy anywhere in the world.
She told Mr Williamson that he needed to rethink the capabilities needed to be a modern military force and focus more on Britain's ability to tackle any cyber warfare threats, including from Russia.
Defence spending is set to rise dramatically up the agenda with a looming Nato summit and Donald Trump's first visit to Britain as Prime Minister.
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Military And Intelligence News Briefs -- June 21, 2018
PM May asked defense minister to justify UK status as 'tier one' military power: FT -- Reuters
How cuts to Britain's military mean we no longer rule the waves, with fleet halved since 1990 -- Telegraph
‘Shock waves’ at MoD after PM questions UK’s role as ‘tier-one’ military power -- RT
Russia’s ‘Terminator’ advanced combat vehicles to get smart shells -- TASS
Russia to launch construction of nuclear-powered guided missile destroyer -- TASS
Russian submarines are a growing threat, says Europe’s top Navy commander -- Stars and Stripes
Why China's New Cambodia Military Boost Matters -- The Diplomat
Philippines' Duterte approves $5.6-billion military upgrade -- Reuters
Despite US Senate Vote, Turkey Expects F-35 Jets in 2020 – Foreign Minister -- Sputnik
Italian navy to procure Black Shark advanced torpedo -- UPI
Here’s what the Czech military wants to buy with its record $4.5B modernization program -- Defense News
Merkel, Trump both agree the ailing German military needs a boost — so why isn’t it happening? -- Griff Witte, Toronto Star/The Washington Post
New U.S. Army headquarters to open next week in South Korea -- UPI
Senate bill raises prospect of joint U.S., Taiwan drills -- UPI
Here’s when the US Air Force will get its first KC-46 tanker -- Defense News
Air Force resumes B-1 bomber flight operations after safety concerns -- UPI
Mattis: Military will house immigrant children if asked -- The Hill
Mattis: Legislation needed to create 'space force' -- The Hill
Space Force will require ‘legislation and a lot of detail planning,’ says Mattis -- Defense News
Mattis 'not aware' of North Korea taking any steps to denuclearize -- The Hill
Experimental helicopter Raider cleared for full flight test program -- Defense News
Pentagon contracts for 'surge support' for MQ-9 Reaper drones -- UPI
Defense budget bill creates path for future network of military, commercial communications satellites -- Space News
US Military Report Warns Of Terrifying New Bioterrorism Threat -- IFL Science
Trump's Mar-a-Lago trips cost $20M in Coast Guard protection: report -- The Hill
You're not gonna believe where they found that missing Minot machine gun -- Air Force Times
What Is The Military Diet, And Why Is It Going Viral? -- Men's Health
Can You Think of Any Other Ways to Spend $716 Billion? -- Matt Taibbi, Rolling Stone
Technological Prowess, Lethality, and the Civil-Military Divide -- Torey McMurdo and Christopher Hocking, War On The Rocks
1 comment:
I note that Ms May is proposing a major increase in taxes and spending on the National Health care system. The increase is large enough that I think it was her Chancellor of Exchequer who said there is no more funds for defense increases.
If so then maybe she is trying to get ahead of a defense spending train wreck sure to come in a few years by reducing MOD's requirements and funding. Its not like Britain is capable of much right now given its much reduced state, might as well state the obvious.
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