Of note for Defence today, comments made by the US Defence Secretary Ash Carter in relation to Britain’s defence spending, and the response to those remarks made by the UK’s Defence Secretary Michael Fallon, continue to be highlighted in the media today.
Defence spending
The Times, Daily Mirror and Daily Telegraph report on the BBC’s interview with Ash Carter, particularly comments that the UK is “signalling that it wanted to disengage from the world”.
Articles go on to reflect comments made by Michael Fallon in response on the BBC’s the World at One yesterday, in which he stressed that any defence and security strategy has to be affordable and that while the UK is committed to spending 2 per cent this year and next, any further decision will be decided as part of the SDSR.
Defence Secretary Michael Fallon said:
It is now a balanced Defence budget… It tells you that we can run a defence budget properly, and so well that you can invest for the future. We’re building two aircraft carriers, seven Hunter-Killer submarines, there are new armoured vehicles on order for the army, we’re buying the Joint Strike Fighter to go on the carriers for the RAF. It is because we have sorted out the defence budget that we’re able to invest in equipment.
The Daily Mirror meanwhile records comments made by the Foreign Secretary Philip Hammond last night in which he said “we are determined to maintain our global role”.
Read more on Mr Fallon’s interview here.
SAS deaths
All print outlets today reflect on the inquest into three army reservists who died during an SAS selection exercise on the Brecon Beacons in 2013. A number of the articles lead by reporting that the coroner heard how the test march was not called off because of the paperwork a cancellation would have created. The rest of the articles carry details of the climbs the soldiers were expected to complete.
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