Britain announces drastic defense cuts
Source: Agencies |
October 20, 2010, Wednesday
|
Print Edition
Print Edition
BRITAIN will lose thousands of troops, build new aircraft carriers - without new fighter jets - and delay a multibillion pound upgrade to its nuclear deterrent under sweeping defense cuts being announced yesterday following the first major military review in more than a decade.
Ahead of a speech to Parliament, Prime Minister David Cameron told troops in London that Britain will remain a major global power, despite fears among allies that the austerity plans could diminish the country's military might.
Cameron was to outline the details of cuts likely to total as much as 3 billion pounds (US$4.8 billion) from the defense ministry's annual budget of about 37 billion pounds.
In the most eye-catching move, Britain is expected to press ahead with a 5 billion pound program to build two flagship new aircraft carriers - but won't equip them with British fighter jets for about a decade.
It means the vast vessels will either sail without aircraft, or carry French and United States jets - a decision the main opposition Labour Party described as out of the ordinary.
"We will be an absolutely front rank military power," Cameron promised, speaking at the Permanent Joint Headquarters, in London. "We will make sure that Britain is well defended and we have a set of armed forces that actually are fit for the modern world."
Military cutbacks come a day before Treasury chief George Osborne's long-anticipated announcement of a government-wide program to cut department budgets and welfare bills.
The largest cuts to public spending since World War II are aimed at virtually eliminating Britain's deficit, which stands at over 10 percent of gross domestic product.
While Cameron pledges to safeguard funding for British forces in Afghanistan, the US has already raised worries that cuts could leave its ally unable to take on a major role in military missions in the future. "This is not a time where you can slacken in the need to keep strong and to invest in your military," said Jim Townsend, the US deputy assistant secretary of defense for Europe and NATO.
In a phone call with President Barack Obama late on Monday, Cameron promised that Britain would continue to be "a robust ally of the US," despite the budget constraints.
Obama told his British counterpart he hoped the changes would allow the United Kingdom to "retain the full spectrum of military capabilities that permits our forces to partner effectively together around the world."
Cameron was expected to confirm that more than 7,000 army troops, and personnel from the air force and navy will be cut from Britain's ranks of about 175,000. He was likely to confirm the aging aircraft carrier HMS Ark Royal and a fleet of Harrier jets will be immediately taken out of service.
An order for 138 F-35 Joint Strike Fighter jets, which are mainly being built by US-based Lockheed Martin is also likely to be slashed.
Ahead of a speech to Parliament, Prime Minister David Cameron told troops in London that Britain will remain a major global power, despite fears among allies that the austerity plans could diminish the country's military might.
Cameron was to outline the details of cuts likely to total as much as 3 billion pounds (US$4.8 billion) from the defense ministry's annual budget of about 37 billion pounds.
In the most eye-catching move, Britain is expected to press ahead with a 5 billion pound program to build two flagship new aircraft carriers - but won't equip them with British fighter jets for about a decade.
It means the vast vessels will either sail without aircraft, or carry French and United States jets - a decision the main opposition Labour Party described as out of the ordinary.
"We will be an absolutely front rank military power," Cameron promised, speaking at the Permanent Joint Headquarters, in London. "We will make sure that Britain is well defended and we have a set of armed forces that actually are fit for the modern world."
Military cutbacks come a day before Treasury chief George Osborne's long-anticipated announcement of a government-wide program to cut department budgets and welfare bills.
The largest cuts to public spending since World War II are aimed at virtually eliminating Britain's deficit, which stands at over 10 percent of gross domestic product.
While Cameron pledges to safeguard funding for British forces in Afghanistan, the US has already raised worries that cuts could leave its ally unable to take on a major role in military missions in the future. "This is not a time where you can slacken in the need to keep strong and to invest in your military," said Jim Townsend, the US deputy assistant secretary of defense for Europe and NATO.
In a phone call with President Barack Obama late on Monday, Cameron promised that Britain would continue to be "a robust ally of the US," despite the budget constraints.
Obama told his British counterpart he hoped the changes would allow the United Kingdom to "retain the full spectrum of military capabilities that permits our forces to partner effectively together around the world."
Cameron was expected to confirm that more than 7,000 army troops, and personnel from the air force and navy will be cut from Britain's ranks of about 175,000. He was likely to confirm the aging aircraft carrier HMS Ark Royal and a fleet of Harrier jets will be immediately taken out of service.
An order for 138 F-35 Joint Strike Fighter jets, which are mainly being built by US-based Lockheed Martin is also likely to be slashed.
- About Us
- |
- Terms of Use
- |
-
RSS - |
- Privacy Policy
- |
- Contact Us
- |
- Shanghai Call Center: 962288
- |
- Tip-off hotline: 52920043
- 沪ICP证：沪ICP备05050403号-1
- |
- 互联网新闻信息服务许可证：31120180004
- |
- 网络视听许可证：0909346
- |
- 广播电视节目制作许可证：沪字第354号
- |
- 增值电信业务经营许可证：沪B2-20120012
Copyright © 1999- Shanghai Daily. All rights reserved.Preferably viewed with Internet Explorer 8 or newer browsers.
