Hillary Clinton concerned by UK defence cuts
Hillary Clinton has said that plans to cut the Ministry of Defence budget by 10% are of concern. The views expressed by Washington came as Britain's top military leaders launched a last ditch attempt to persuade David Cameron to scale down the cuts.
In an interview with BBC Parliament's The Record Europe in Brussels, Clinton said. "The reason it concerns me is because I think we do have to have an alliance where there is a commitment to the common defence. Nato has been the most successful alliance for defensive purposes in the history of the world I guess, but it has to be maintained. Now, each country has to be able to make its appropriate contributions."
Robert Gates, who was in Brussels for a meeting of NATO defence ministers, voiced similar concerns. "My worry is that the more our allies cut their capabilities, the more people will look to the United States to cover whatever gaps are created. At a time when we are facing stringencies of our own, that's a concern for me."
Admiral Sir Mark Stanhope, the first sea lord, Air Chief Marshal Sir Stephen Dalton, the chief of the air staff, and General Sir Peter Wall, the chief of the general staff, are all understood to have warned that the cuts could endanger the future of Britain's armed forces. Air Chief Marshal Sir Jock Stirrup, the outgoing chief of the defence staff, also attended.
The service chiefs are also understood to be concerned about the prime minister's decision to appoint his own military adviser. It is understood that they feel that the appointment of Colonel Jim Morris, of the Royal Marines, could jeopardise the position of General Sir David Richards, the incoming chief of the defence staff, as the prime minister's principle military adviser. Richards did not attend the meeting because he is abroad.
A Downing Street spokeswoman said: "Hillary Clinton was talking about defence cuts across Europe and specifically in the context of Nato. She is absolutely right when she says that each country has to be able to make its appropriate contribution to common defence in Nato and Britain will always do that."
In an interview with BBC Parliament's The Record Europe in Brussels, Clinton said. "The reason it concerns me is because I think we do have to have an alliance where there is a commitment to the common defence. Nato has been the most successful alliance for defensive purposes in the history of the world I guess, but it has to be maintained. Now, each country has to be able to make its appropriate contributions."
Robert Gates, who was in Brussels for a meeting of NATO defence ministers, voiced similar concerns. "My worry is that the more our allies cut their capabilities, the more people will look to the United States to cover whatever gaps are created. At a time when we are facing stringencies of our own, that's a concern for me."
Admiral Sir Mark Stanhope, the first sea lord, Air Chief Marshal Sir Stephen Dalton, the chief of the air staff, and General Sir Peter Wall, the chief of the general staff, are all understood to have warned that the cuts could endanger the future of Britain's armed forces. Air Chief Marshal Sir Jock Stirrup, the outgoing chief of the defence staff, also attended.
The service chiefs are also understood to be concerned about the prime minister's decision to appoint his own military adviser. It is understood that they feel that the appointment of Colonel Jim Morris, of the Royal Marines, could jeopardise the position of General Sir David Richards, the incoming chief of the defence staff, as the prime minister's principle military adviser. Richards did not attend the meeting because he is abroad.
A Downing Street spokeswoman said: "Hillary Clinton was talking about defence cuts across Europe and specifically in the context of Nato. She is absolutely right when she says that each country has to be able to make its appropriate contribution to common defence in Nato and Britain will always do that."
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