Go to Source
Author:
Go to Source
Author:
Go to Source
Author:
Increased co-operation between the nations was agreed in key meetings with the American Secretary of the Army, Mark Esper, and Secretary of the Navy, Richard Spencer.
Russia, cyber warfare and the ongoing fight against Daesh were also on the agenda during discussions in Washington this week.
Minister for Armed Forces, Mark Lancaster, said:
British and American personnel are standing side by side, defending our shared values around the world. We are countering Russian aggression, defeating Daesh and strengthening NATO; and our special relationship will continue to strengthen as we face these evolving threats together.
Both nations are undergoing significant upgrades in defence policy, with the UK currently consulting on its Modernising Defence Programme and the US publishing its National Defense Strategy in January. The two programmes are already closely aligned, with a strong emphasis on modernising forces to tackle the increasing shared threats faced on several fronts, while strengthening international alliances and forging new ones.
The US and UK are the two largest contributors to NATO, and among just five countries pledging at least 2% of their GDP to defence. Both countries have been calling on other nations to match this contribution, ahead of the NATO summit in July.
The UK’s defence trade partnership with the US is worth £3billion, including collaboration on several key projects such as the F-35 programme, Unmanned Air Systems and a Common Missile Compartment for UK-US Ballistic Missile Submarines.
An even closer bond is expected after Brexit, as the UK establishes new relationships and trade deals outside of Europe.
The Minister will head to the Arctic Circle this weekend to observe the annual Ice Exercise (ICEX) between the British and US navies, highlighting the capability of both nations’ submarines to operate in the most extreme conditions.
Minister for Armed Forces, Mark Lancaster, added:
From partnering on the F-35 programme, to training together in Norway, our Navies and Marines continuously build capability together, and ICEX is another important opportunity for our two nations to show what we can do.
Overview of the main subjects to be discussed at meetings of the Council of the EU over the next two weeks.
The Council will discuss Ukraine, Syria and Iran. EU foreign ministers will exchange views with the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Republic of Korea (South Korea) Kang Kyung-wha which will be focussed on the situation on the Korean Peninsula (DPRK, North Korea)
The Council is due to adopt Council conclusions on the Commission communication on “The future of food and farming” and to exchange views on the regulation on a multi-annual plan for demersal species in the Western Mediterranean
The Council will continue preparations for the Spring European Council and address the European semester.
EU27 ministers will discuss draft guidelines on the framework for a future relationship with the UK and the state of play of Brexit negotiations.
The March European Council will focus on economic issues. Leaders will address the single market, the European Semester, social issues and trade. They will also discuss recent developments in relations with Turkey and prepare for the upcoming EU- Western Balkans summit on 17 May. Under the Leaders’ Agenda they will discuss taxation. Separately, EU leaders will discuss Brexit in an EU 27 format and the future of EMU in Euro Summit format.
EU27 leaders will adopt guidelines on the framework for the future relationship with the UK after Brexit.
The 19 euro area members will discuss the long-term development of the economic and monetary union, including more ambitious proposals in the fiscal and economic dimension.