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David Cameron puts drones and special forces top of defence shopping list Cameron puts drones and special forces top of UK defence shopping list
(about 9 hours later)
David Cameron will signal that he wants special forces, drones and stronger, readily deployable counter-terrorist facilities to be the big winners in the strategic defence review undertaken this autumn.David Cameron will signal that he wants special forces, drones and stronger, readily deployable counter-terrorist facilities to be the big winners in the strategic defence review undertaken this autumn.
The summer budget contained a surprise commitment to spend 2% of GDP on defence for the next 10 years, but the precise distribution of that budget is now up for discussion between the services and Downing Street.The summer budget contained a surprise commitment to spend 2% of GDP on defence for the next 10 years, but the precise distribution of that budget is now up for discussion between the services and Downing Street.
He has signalled he wants the chief priorities in the review to be protecting the UK from evolving threats: predominantly terrorism, extremism and an increasingly aggressive Russia. He will also warn that threats are likely to come from cyberspace.He has signalled he wants the chief priorities in the review to be protecting the UK from evolving threats: predominantly terrorism, extremism and an increasingly aggressive Russia. He will also warn that threats are likely to come from cyberspace.
The prime minister discussed his views with the defence chiefs last week after the budget, and on Monday he will visit RAF Waddington, from where Reaper drone missions are flown over Iraq and Syria.The prime minister discussed his views with the defence chiefs last week after the budget, and on Monday he will visit RAF Waddington, from where Reaper drone missions are flown over Iraq and Syria.
On the visit, Cameron will say: “Now we know how much we will spend, what matters next is how we spend it. I have tasked the defence and security chiefs to look specifically at how we do more to counter the threat posed by Isil [Islamic State] and Islamist extremism.On the visit, Cameron will say: “Now we know how much we will spend, what matters next is how we spend it. I have tasked the defence and security chiefs to look specifically at how we do more to counter the threat posed by Isil [Islamic State] and Islamist extremism.
“This could include more spy planes, drones and special forces. In the last five years, I have seen just how vital these assets are in keeping us safe.”“This could include more spy planes, drones and special forces. In the last five years, I have seen just how vital these assets are in keeping us safe.”
The visit will underline his determination to show that, although Britain is not yet involved in the air strikes under way in Syria due to the Commons vote to reject British involvement in 2013, the RAF is still active over the skies of Syria, providing air-to-air refuelling and surveillance assistance.The visit will underline his determination to show that, although Britain is not yet involved in the air strikes under way in Syria due to the Commons vote to reject British involvement in 2013, the RAF is still active over the skies of Syria, providing air-to-air refuelling and surveillance assistance.
Cameron has also signalled he is asking the interim Labour leader, Harriet Harman, and the shadow defence secretary, Vernon Coaker, to attend a meeting of the National Security Council to be briefed about the military position in Syria.Cameron has also signalled he is asking the interim Labour leader, Harriet Harman, and the shadow defence secretary, Vernon Coaker, to attend a meeting of the National Security Council to be briefed about the military position in Syria.
The invitation is a further sign that Cameron wants to ask the Commons again to allow British air strikes in Syria. Labour, which already supports UK air strikes in Iraq, is shifting its thinking but is still doubtful that Cameron has a clear strategy. Britain opposes both chief protagonists in Syria – the president, Bashar al-Assad, and Isis, based in Raqqa. No government request to Labour will come at least until after the Labour leadership election is over in mid-September.The invitation is a further sign that Cameron wants to ask the Commons again to allow British air strikes in Syria. Labour, which already supports UK air strikes in Iraq, is shifting its thinking but is still doubtful that Cameron has a clear strategy. Britain opposes both chief protagonists in Syria – the president, Bashar al-Assad, and Isis, based in Raqqa. No government request to Labour will come at least until after the Labour leadership election is over in mid-September.
Downing Street believes Russia is open to persuasion that Assad is no longer worth protecting, and could yet back a peaceful transition to a broad-based coalition. However, the UK has proved wrongly optimistic about Vladimir Putin’s willingness to abandon Assad in the past.Downing Street believes Russia is open to persuasion that Assad is no longer worth protecting, and could yet back a peaceful transition to a broad-based coalition. However, the UK has proved wrongly optimistic about Vladimir Putin’s willingness to abandon Assad in the past.