|
The U.S. army's chief of staff said earlier this month he was
very concerned about the impact of spending cuts on British
defense and future cooperation with London, traditionally a
staunch U.S. ally.
Ahead of an unusually close national election on May 7, Prime
Minister David Cameron's Conservatives and the opposition Labour
Party are under pressure from lawmakers across the spectrum to
commit to protect defense spending after the ballot. Both have
dodged firm pledges.
Fallon, who held talks with U.S. Defense Secretary Ash Carter
earlier this month, said Washington and concerned British
lawmakers had nothing to worry about.
"The U.S. understands what really matters in today’s unstable
world. When the chips are down, the UK will always be at their
side," Fallon wrote in the Daily Telegraph. "Our American
friends know that the UK is not about to let down its guard."
Fallon said Britain's finances were on a firm foundation, that
it was investing in its military and had the biggest defense
budget in the EU, and that it was putting its capabilities to
work in places like Iraq.
The United States knew it could rely on Britain, he said, saying
that when Carter greeted him in Washington earlier this month he
told him: "Thank God we're in this together."
(Reporting by Andrew Osborn; Editing by Guy Faulconbridge)
[© 2015 Thomson Reuters. All rights
reserved.] Copyright 2015 Reuters. All rights reserved. This material may not be published,
broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
 |
|
