Under strain: weakening Britain's national security would threaten the country's Special Relationship with America, as epitomised by the meeting between David Cameron and Barack Obama Photo: Reuters
Britain’s Influence And Security Are Imperiled By Defence Cuts -- The Telegraph
The Government's defence budget cuts are risking the Special Relationship with America.
The Cabinet Office website says that “National security is the first duty of Government. Britain as a country continues to have global responsibilities and global ambitions.” It states unequivocally: “We will remain a first rate military power.”
Sadly, the reality does not match the rhetoric. Britain is disarming: in the last 20 years defence spending has been cut from 4 per cent of GDP to 2 per cent – and the cuts continue. One Wing of the United States Air Force (72 aircraft) can provide more firepower than the whole of Britain’s operational Tornado force (60 aircraft). Our surface fleet is reduced to 19 combat units. On present budgetary plans we could, by 2020, deploy only one brigade of 8,500 troops, six or seven ships and some 30 aircraft for prolonged operations – those lasting longer than 6 months.
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My Comment: Yup .... this is the end of Britain being a serious military ally with the U.S.. I expect their military role to eventually become like Canada's or Australia's .... a place to fly to, conduct small scale exercises, use as a port of call, share some intelligence, and once in a while sign some important but significant defense agreements.
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