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US defence secretary intervenes in UK military budget row US defence secretary intervenes in UK military budget row
(about 2 hours later)
The US defence secretary, James Mattis, has made a surprise intervention in the row over UK defence spending by throwing his weight behind the push by his British counterpart, Gavin Williamson, push for more spending. The US defence secretary, James Mattis, has made a surprise intervention in the row over UK defence spending by warning France could replace the UK as Washington’s closest military ally in Europe.
In a leaked letter, Mattis told Williamson the US was concerned that the UK’s military power was at risk of erosion. He compared the UK unfavourably with France, which Mattis pointed out had committed to significant increases in defence spending. In a leaked letter to the British defence secretary, Gavin Williamson, Mattis expressed concern the UK’s military power was at risk of erosion and compared the UK unfavourably with France, which Mattis pointed out had committed to significant increases in defence spending.
It is unusual for a US defence secretary to comment on UK domestic politics in this way. The letter was sent to Williamson on 12 June, three days after a visit by Mattis to London. Williamson would be unlikely to have leaked it without first seeking approval from his American counterpart. “As global actors, France and the US have concluded that now is the time to significantly increase our investment in defense. Other allies are following suit,” he said.
In the letter, leaked to the Sun, Mattis says: “A global nation like the UK, with interests and commitments around the world, will require a level of defence spending beyond what we would expect from allies with only regional interests. Absent a vibrant military arm, world peace and stability would be at further risk.” “It is in the best interest of both our nations for the UK to remain the US partner of choice.”
He adds: “As global actors, France and the US have concluded that now is the time to significantly increase our investment in defence. Other allies are following suit.” Trump is pressing all members of Nato to spend more on defence and will make the plea in person at a Nato summit in Brussels next week.
France is to spend an extra £260bn on defence through to 2025 and Germany has also pledged to increase its spending. Both countries spend less than the UK and, unlike the UK, less than the Nato target of 2% of GDP. The UK meets the Nato target of spending 2% of GDP on defence, but Theresa May and the chancellor, Philip Hammond, are ruling out any significant increases in spite of pressure from Williamson.
Since Donald Trump became US president, France has closely watched relations between Washington and London, noting the relationship appears to be a little more frayed. France spends 1.7% of GDP on defence, below the Nato target, but the country’s president, Emmanuel Macron, who is aiming to meet the goal, announced in February that billions more would be spent through to 2025.
The Treasury has told Williamson he will receive not further increases. Since Trump became president in January 2017, French diplomats and the military have been watching with interest a divergence between London and Washington on a host of issues, raising hopes that it might yet supplant the UK.
In his letter, Mattis says: “It is in the best interest of both our nations for the UK to remain the US partner of choice. In that spirit, the UK will need to invest and maintain robust military capability. The period is in contrast with 2003, when relations between Paris and Washington were strained because France declined to join the US in invading Iraq.
“It is not for me to tell you how to prioritize your domestic spending priorities, but I hope the UK will soon be able to share with us a clear, and fully funded, forward defence blueprint that will allow me to plan our own future engagement with you from a position of strength and confidence.” Mattis argued in the letter: “I am concerned that your ability to continue to provide this critical military foundation for diplomatic success is at risk of erosion, while together we face a world awash with change.”
Mattis’s position in the Trump administration is under threat, having been sidelined on recent key issues. The letter was sent to Williamson on 12 June, three days after a visit by Mattis to London. Williamson would be unlikely to have leaked it without first seeking approval from his American counterpart.
Trump is pressing all members of Nato to spend more on defence and will do so face to face at the Nato summit in Brussels this month. If Mattis sent the letter to help Williamson in his campaign for more money, it marks an unusual departure for a senior US politician, who would normally not intervene in British domestic politics in such a public way.
The UK government is struggling to finalise its defence review before the Nato summit as promised. Unable to agree on more spending, the choice is increasing between publishing a vague statement of intent or not publish anything at all. Mattis said that while it is in the best interests of the US and UK that Britain remains the partner of choice, “the UK will need to invest and maintain robust military capability”.
“It is not for me to tell you how to prioritize your domestic spending priorities, but I hope the UK will soon be able to share with us a clear and fully funded forward defence blueprint that will allow me to plan our own future engagement with you from a position of strength and confidence,” he said.
“A global nation like the UK, with interests and commitments around the world, will require a level of defence spending beyond what we would expect from allies with only regional interests. Absent a vibrant military arm, world peace and stability would be at further risk.”
The Treasury has told Williamson he will receive no further increases.
Mattis’s position in the Trump administration is under threat and he has been sidelined on recent key issues.
The UK government is struggling to finalise its defence review before the Nato summit as promised. Unable to agree on more spending, the choice is increasingly between publishing a vague statement of intent or not publishing anything at all.
A Ministry of Defence spokesman said: “The UK maintains the biggest defence budget in Europe and we have been clear we will continue to exceed Nato’s 2% spending target.A Ministry of Defence spokesman said: “The UK maintains the biggest defence budget in Europe and we have been clear we will continue to exceed Nato’s 2% spending target.
“The defence secretary launched the modernising defence programme to strengthen our armed forces in the face of intensifying threats.”“The defence secretary launched the modernising defence programme to strengthen our armed forces in the face of intensifying threats.”
Defence policyDefence policy
Gavin WilliamsonGavin Williamson
US foreign policyUS foreign policy
US defence spendingUS defence spending
NatoNato
Trump administrationTrump administration
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