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You can find the current article at its original source at https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2018/aug/07/uk-tier-one-military-power-gavin-williamson-defence-secretary
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| UK will remain tier-one military power, says defence secretary | UK will remain tier-one military power, says defence secretary |
| (about 2 months later) | |
| Britain will remain a “tier-one” military power with the ability to deploy forces around the world, the defence secretary has said. | Britain will remain a “tier-one” military power with the ability to deploy forces around the world, the defence secretary has said. |
| Speaking on a visit to Washington where he was holding talks with James Mattis, his US counterpart, Gavin Williamson said the UK and the US would continue to be “reliable partners for the long term”. | Speaking on a visit to Washington where he was holding talks with James Mattis, his US counterpart, Gavin Williamson said the UK and the US would continue to be “reliable partners for the long term”. |
| His comments came after Theresa May refused to state explicitly that the UK would remain a tier-one power amid reports of clashes with Williamson over future defence spending levels. | His comments came after Theresa May refused to state explicitly that the UK would remain a tier-one power amid reports of clashes with Williamson over future defence spending levels. |
| Addressing the Atlantic Council thinktank, Williamson said: “Britain is a major global actor. We have always been a tier-one military power and we always will be a tier-one military power.” | Addressing the Atlantic Council thinktank, Williamson said: “Britain is a major global actor. We have always been a tier-one military power and we always will be a tier-one military power.” |
| He pointed to the UK’s independent nuclear deterrent, “world class” special forces and cyber capabilities, and “exceptional” conventional forces “able to deploy independently around the globe”. | He pointed to the UK’s independent nuclear deterrent, “world class” special forces and cyber capabilities, and “exceptional” conventional forces “able to deploy independently around the globe”. |
| Williamson also used his address to emphasise the continuing importance of Nato to the US after Donald Trump berated allies for failing to contribute more to the costs of their collective defence at last month’s alliance summit in Brussels. | Williamson also used his address to emphasise the continuing importance of Nato to the US after Donald Trump berated allies for failing to contribute more to the costs of their collective defence at last month’s alliance summit in Brussels. |
| The defence secretary pointed out that the only time Nato’s article 5 – which commits members to come to the defence of an ally which is attacked – had been invoked was after the 9/11 terror attacks in 2001. | The defence secretary pointed out that the only time Nato’s article 5 – which commits members to come to the defence of an ally which is attacked – had been invoked was after the 9/11 terror attacks in 2001. |
| He said years of pressure by the US and the UK to persuade other allies that they needed to spend more on defence were now paying off, with eight member states likely to meet the target of spending 2% of their GDP on defence. | He said years of pressure by the US and the UK to persuade other allies that they needed to spend more on defence were now paying off, with eight member states likely to meet the target of spending 2% of their GDP on defence. |
| “Alongside the US, the UK has been pressing for the alliance to do more, to pay its way. We are now seeing the results. Last year saw Nato’s biggest spending increase in 25 years,” he said. | “Alongside the US, the UK has been pressing for the alliance to do more, to pay its way. We are now seeing the results. Last year saw Nato’s biggest spending increase in 25 years,” he said. |
| “Since making the investment pledge at the 2014 Wales summit, allies have spent $87bn [£67.2bn] more on defence. In just two years’ time that number will increase to at least $150bn. Increasingly we are seeing more partners pull their weight realising that they have got to spend more because of the increasing threat that the world faces.” | “Since making the investment pledge at the 2014 Wales summit, allies have spent $87bn [£67.2bn] more on defence. In just two years’ time that number will increase to at least $150bn. Increasingly we are seeing more partners pull their weight realising that they have got to spend more because of the increasing threat that the world faces.” |
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