This article is from the source 'nytimes' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.nytimes.com/2015/06/20/world/europe/britain-invites-us-to-join-review-of-its-military.html
The article has changed 3 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 0 | Version 1 |
|---|---|
| Britain Invites U.S. Official to Join Review of Its Military | |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| LONDON — In an effort to allay concerns in Washington about cuts in British military spending, an American official has joined a British review panel that was established to determine the future of Britain’s armed forces. | LONDON — In an effort to allay concerns in Washington about cuts in British military spending, an American official has joined a British review panel that was established to determine the future of Britain’s armed forces. |
| Speaking to reporters in London on Thursday, Michael Fallon, the British defense secretary, said he had “deliberately invited and included a U.S. official” to join the review, adding that his government was “liaising very closely with the Department of Defense throughout.” | Speaking to reporters in London on Thursday, Michael Fallon, the British defense secretary, said he had “deliberately invited and included a U.S. official” to join the review, adding that his government was “liaising very closely with the Department of Defense throughout.” |
| Mr. Fallon also emphasized other areas of cooperation with the United States, adding that a recent American airstrike in Libya targeting Mokhtar Belmokhtar, the mastermind of the 2013 attack at an Algerian gas plant, had been initiated from a British air base. | |
| “That’s how we cooperate,” Mr. Fallon said, adding that he rejected the idea that Britain was reducing its presence on the global stage. | |
| The comments came amid a debate about Britain’s role in the world, prompted by years of cuts in government spending, a Parliament vote in 2013 against airstrikes in Syria and debate before a referendum, to be held by the end of 2017, on whether to leave the European Union. | The comments came amid a debate about Britain’s role in the world, prompted by years of cuts in government spending, a Parliament vote in 2013 against airstrikes in Syria and debate before a referendum, to be held by the end of 2017, on whether to leave the European Union. |
| They also highlight the sensitivities surrounding military spending by NATO nations in Europe, where Britain and France are among the biggest military powers. | They also highlight the sensitivities surrounding military spending by NATO nations in Europe, where Britain and France are among the biggest military powers. |
| This month, the United States defense secretary, Ashton B. Carter, warned against spending cuts. Britain had “punched above its weight,” he said, and “it would be a great loss to the world if it now took action that would indicate disengagement.” | This month, the United States defense secretary, Ashton B. Carter, warned against spending cuts. Britain had “punched above its weight,” he said, and “it would be a great loss to the world if it now took action that would indicate disengagement.” |
| The British Army plans to reduce the number of professional troops by about 20 percent by 2020, to about 82,000. | The British Army plans to reduce the number of professional troops by about 20 percent by 2020, to about 82,000. |
| This year, the Royal United Services Institute, a research group specializing in military and security issues, estimated that military spending in Britain would fall below NATO’s target, which calls for member countries to spend 2 percent of their gross domestic product on defense. | This year, the Royal United Services Institute, a research group specializing in military and security issues, estimated that military spending in Britain would fall below NATO’s target, which calls for member countries to spend 2 percent of their gross domestic product on defense. |
| Britain’s prospects of meeting that target have been complicated by a recent increase in economic growth. | Britain’s prospects of meeting that target have been complicated by a recent increase in economic growth. |
| Mr. Fallon sought to dispel such concerns, arguing that British military spending was still “comfortably above” the 2 percent level. He gave no guarantee for the future, however, saying the picture would become clear only after the defense review was completed. | Mr. Fallon sought to dispel such concerns, arguing that British military spending was still “comfortably above” the 2 percent level. He gave no guarantee for the future, however, saying the picture would become clear only after the defense review was completed. |
| “We are the good guys in this,” Mr. Fallon said, adding that seven of the 28 NATO nations “don’t even spend 1 percent; 20 of the 28 don’t spend 1.5 percent.” | “We are the good guys in this,” Mr. Fallon said, adding that seven of the 28 NATO nations “don’t even spend 1 percent; 20 of the 28 don’t spend 1.5 percent.” |
| He added that Britain’s military would see “no further shrinkage of personnel,” and argued that, if anything, the country was increasing its global presence, because it was involved in significantly more operations around the world than it was in 2010. | He added that Britain’s military would see “no further shrinkage of personnel,” and argued that, if anything, the country was increasing its global presence, because it was involved in significantly more operations around the world than it was in 2010. |