U.S. Navy Secretary Carlos Del Toro said it is “absolutely imperative” that Western democracies continue to invest in defense because of the many new threats emerging around the world.
“Given the threats that exist today, the UK will reassess its current position,” Del Toro told reporters after speaking at London’s Royal United Services Institute (Rusi), according to multiple reports. I think that’s important,” he said.
He is also said to have told a think tank conference that a “sacrifice” had been made to the British Army.
The U.S. ally’s comments come as outgoing British Army chief General Patrick Saunders said this week that Britain needs to prepare for war by reducing the number of British troops from 74,000 to at least 45,000 reservists and civilians. This was issued in response to the statement that there was a need to strengthen the system. Possibility of war between NATO forces and Russia.
Sir Patrick also highlighted funding issues, saying preparations to create “Europe’s most lethal Army” were being “hampered”, with more than 80% of the Army’s 10-year £44bn spending plan still to be undertaken. He said he had not.
Reacting to Mr del Toro’s comments, Downing Street noted that the UK was the US government’s “partner of choice” to carry out airstrikes against the Houthis in the Red Sea because of its “military capabilities”.
The two men joined forces for the second time this week to target rebel strongholds in Yemen.
Iran-backed militants, who support Gaza’s ruler Hamas in its war against Israel, have targeted international shipping in response to the Middle East conflict.
The Prime Minister’s spokesperson said: “The UK is the second largest defense spender in NATO and the largest defense spender in Europe.”
“The Navy, Army and Royal Air Force all play an active role globally, operating across every ocean and continent.
“Our military capabilities are also the reason why we are chosen as the United States’ partner in defending against Houthi attacks in the Red Sea.
“We do all this while remaining a world-leading supporter of the defense of Ukraine.
“During the Prime Minister’s visit to Kyiv this month, we announced a £2.5 billion increase in military funding.”
In the second round of joint British and American airstrikes on Monday, the Royal Air Force targeted a number of Houthi positions.
Four Typhoon FGR4s, supported by a pair of Voyager tankers, used Paveway IV precision-guided bombs to attack multiple targets on two military installations near Sanaa Airfield.
The Navy is participating in patrols of the Red Sea, where further missile attacks were recorded on Friday, and the Type 45 destroyer USS Diamond is cooperating with the US Navy.
Defense Secretary Grant Shapps has previously supported raising defense spending to 3% of gross domestic product, a measure of the size of the economy, but last week said the country was currently below its 2.5% target.
In a grand speech last week, Conservative ministers said the world was moving from a “post-war world to a pre-war world” and urged the UK to ensure “the entire defense ecosystem is ready” to protect its homeland. He asked them to ensure that the His was taken as a sales pitch for additional funds.
