US fears over cuts in British defence

Gen Odierno said that British defence cuts are already jeopardising US-UK joint operations

30 May 2013 James Kirkup and Ben Farmer - telegraph.co.uk

Defence cuts will leave the British Army “dependent” on its US counterparts, a senior American commander has warned.

General Ray Odierno revealed that he has repeatedly raised concerns with British defence chiefs that Britain’s shrinking forces will be unable to work alongside the Americans.

Gen Odierno’s comments come as ministers fight over a fresh round of spending reductions that could force another round of defence cuts.

The British Army is losing 20,000 regular posts, shrinking to 82,000 soldiers by 2015. Armoured units, including the Desert Rats, are losing their tanks.

Gen Odierno said that such cuts are already jeopardising US-UK joint operations, and leaving the British reliant on American forces.

“As the British Army continues to reduce in size we’ve had several conversations about keeping them integrated in what we’re trying to do,” he said.

“In a lot of ways they’re depending on us, especially in our ground capabilities into the future.”

Speaking at a Washington think-tank, the general warned that defence cuts by America’s European allies like Britain risk undermining Nato and Transatlantic relations.

“We gotta make sure we stay in sync, because we might become unbalanced,” he said.

Gen Odierno’s public comments reflect the private concerns of US commanders over British defence cut, expressed at several private meetings in recent months.

David Cameron has promised to maintain the Special Relationship with the US, which is built on defence co-operation.

The US commander’s comments may strengthen the hand of Philip Hammond, the Defence Secretary, in his battle to avert more cuts in the Spending Review next month.

Mr Hammond is already resisting more cuts as George Osborne, the Chancellor, tries to find another £11.5 billion of savings from Whitehall departments in 2015-16.

The Ministry expects its £34 billion budget to be “hit hard” by the Chancellor because several other high spending departments have their budgets protected from cuts.

The Ministry of Defence believes it can make some “efficiency savings” but those are likely to fall far short of what the Chancellor wants.

Mr Hammond warned Mr Osborne earlier this week that there needed to be an “adult conversation” about how any further cuts might affect Britain’s ability to defend itself.

He denied he was a “hold-back”, as he was trying to make savings by slashing administration, but believes that going any further would cut the capability of Britain’s forces.

He said he would not make cuts that affect front-line troops without forcing Mr Osborne to reconsider savings in other departments “across Government”.

Whitehall sources have previously warned further cuts may take British defence spending below 2 per cent of Gross Domestic Product, regarded by the US as the minimum level for a serious military power.