Today’s defence related news includes coverage of the Defence Secretary’s statement to Parliament yesterday and his call with US Defense Secretary James Mattis.
Trident
There is widespread print and broadcast coverage today of the Defence Secretary’s statement to Parliament yesterday on Trident.
You can read the Defence Secretary’s statement to Parliament here.
A Government spokesperson said:
The capability and effectiveness of the Trident missile, should we ever need to employ it, is unquestionable. In June the Royal Navy conducted a routine unarmed Trident missile test launch from HMS Vengeance, as part of an operation which is designed to certify the submarine and its crew. Vengeance and her crew were successfully tested and certified, allowing Vengeance to return into service. We have absolute confidence in our independent nuclear deterrent. We do not provide further details on submarine operations for obvious national security reasons.
Defence Secretary call with James Mattis
The Guardian and BBC Radio 4 Today report that Defence Secretary Sir Michael Fallon has spoken by telephone with US Defense secretary James Mattis.
Sir Michael Fallon congratulated Secretary Mattis in their first phonecall since his appointment and said:
It was a very warm conversation. We talked of our joint leadership in NATO, including modernising the Alliance and how we ensure that all members meet the NATO 2% spending commitment alongside America and Britain, with our growing defence budget. Operationally we discussed the importance of working together to accelerate the defeat of current threats, including from Daesh in Iraq and Syria, and tackling terrorism in all its forms. I look forward to meeting Secretary Mattis at the next meeting of NATO Defence Ministers in February.
Prince Harry
Daily Express, Daily Mirror and Scotsman write that Prince Harry has used a visit to a veterans Centre to highlight the importance of focusing on mental as well as physical recovery.
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