Continued support and plans to expand the special relationship between the United States and United Kingdom are the watchwords in the face of recent Russian actions in Ukraine and the heightened need for NATO solidarity and the ability to work together in the face of world-wide declining defense budgets.
U.K. Secretary of State for Defense Philip Hammond visited Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel at the Pentagon March 26, who said in a briefing the two nations reaffirmed the “enduring and special relationship” between the two countries.
“The special relationship remains the cornerstone of U.K. defense policy,” Hammond said. “The U.K. intends to remain a fully committed, capable and reliable defense partner to the U.S., providing a number of unique specialist capabilities that benefit both countries.”
In the face of Russian aggression, the most serious threat to European security thus far in the 21st Century, Hammond said the United Kingdom stands “shoulder-to-shoulder” with the United States and NATO allies in opposing Russian moves in Ukraine.
The U.S.-U.K. relationship will expand its cooperative efforts in the face of declining defense budgets, Hammond said. That would be in addition to existing work in areas such as “the F-35, our nuclear deterrence, special forces, intelligence, unmanned aerial vehicles, surveillance aircraft, and carrier strike regeneration.”
Photo: DoD
Later at the Heritage Foundation, Hammond said currently the only two NATO nations meeting the suggested 2 percent of GDP spending on defense are the United States and United Kingdom. European NATO countries must take on a greater responsibility of “providing security in our own backyard.” This will likely be discussed again at the NATO summit the U.K. hosts in Wales in September.
Hammond said he and Hagel agreed they have to get “more bang for the buck” in defense spending. For example, the United Kingdom took on temporary risk in its maritime patrol aircraft to increase spending on the future–in cyber, for example.
Collaboration and cooperation will expand in areas such as acquiring the Predator unmanned aerial vehicle, and other areas where the U.K. can work with the United States to both increase capability and save money.
To those who question if the special relationship is at all meaningful any more, Hammond said the United Kingdom “remains determined to continue to play our part on the world stage and to do so as a partner and ally of the United States.”
And it’s not a relationship depending on the past, but “new threats and old” are the backdrop for this heightened need the enduring military, diplomatic and political partnership more than ever. As well, NATO needs the relationship to underpin its partnerships.
As Hammond said, “events don’t wait for times of plenty or give you much warning.”