Defence Secretary Sir welcomed Secretary Jim
Mattis to London today for his first visit to the UK as US
Defense Secretary. They reviewed a number of defence and security
issues, including the need for NATO modernisation and increased
defence spending by all members, progress in the fight against
extremism, including Daesh in Iraq and Syria, and joint equipment
and defence trade programmes.
Defence Secretary Sir said:
We have no closer friend than the United States and across the
globe our nations are standing side by side in defending our
values. Together we’re showing leadership on the world stage -
tackling extremism, standing up to Russian aggression and
modernising NATO, making it fitter, faster and more agile.
Sir Michael outlined at today’s meeting how Britain is playing a
leading role in European and global defence and security, and
wants a deep and special economic and security partnership with
the EU after the UK leaves. The Defence Secretary confirmed that
as of next week, all 800 British troops would be deployed in
Estonia as part of NATO’s enhanced Forward Presence (eFP),
alongside over 300 British Army vehicles. And continuing UK and
US forces’ long history of joint operations, the UK is supporting
the US-led eFP in Poland, contributing hundreds of troops and
more than 50 vehicles. British armour transporters will be
helping to move US tanks across Poland, underlining the depth of
UK/US cooperation.
Sir Michael and Secretary Mattis also agreed steps for NATO
modernisation, including simpler command structures, and reviewed
the pressing need for NATO members to meet their 2% defence
spending commitments. The Defence Secretary called on NATO
members not meeting the 2% spending commitment to increase their
defence budget annually in real terms, in order to demonstrate
greater burden sharing.
Both the Defence Secretary and Secretary Mattis reviewed progress
in the fight against Daesh and agreed to keep up the campaign
momentum, with Iraqi forces liberating more territory from
Daesh’s tyranny in western Mosul and planning the campaign to
isolate and then liberate Raqqa in Syria. Britain and the US are
leading the Coalition effort to defeat Daesh in Iraq and Syria,
striking extremist positions from the air and training the Iraqi
security forces on the ground.
Visiting the UK for the first time in his new role, US Defense
Secretary Jim Mattis said:
I thank Minister Fallon for the very warm welcome to the UK on my
first visit as Secretary of Defense. The special relationship is
a source of strength for our two nations, standing together in
defense of our freedoms. It is demonstrated daily in our
military-to-military interactions across a host of domains, and
our relationship grows in strength with the mutual respect and
friendship we share.
During a press conference at Lancaster House, Sir Michael
announced a £90 million investment to support the UK’s new F-35
Lightning aircraft. The F-35 programme is a joint undertaking
with the US that will deliver cutting-edge aircraft to British
and American Armed Forces. This multi-million pound contract,
providing maintenance, training and logistic services at RAF
Marham in Norfolk – the future home of the jets’ squadrons - will
sustain hundreds of highly skilled British jobs.
Defence Secretary Sir said:
Nothing demonstrates the strength of our relationship better than
our joint work on the most advanced combat aircraft in the world
– the F-35. The UK is proud to be the future repair hub for all
the European jets. This additional investment at RAF Marham will
ensure that we have a formidable fighting force that, at a time
of growing danger, will help us work with our US partners to
promote international peace and security.
In testament to the British skill base, the UK has been chosen by
the US F-35 Program Office to be a global repair hub, providing
maintenance, overhaul and upgrade services for European F-35s.
The deal builds on the strong foundations of Britain’s
pre-eminent and enduring defence partnership with the US, and
will help create hundreds of high-end jobs, safeguard thousands
more and be a substantial boost to UK exports.
This new £90 million contract, placed through the F-35 Joint
Program Office with Lockheed Martin, in partnership with BAE
Systems, will support services being operated out of RAF Marham.
The new support services contract comes as the UK gets ready to
receive its ninth F-35 aircraft, which will be based at US Marine
Corps Air Station Beaufort, South Carolina. A further £167
million investment was announced last year for the construction
of three new state-of-the-art buildings at the Norfolk base and
construction of these facilities is well under way. In March the
F-35 also successfully conducted first firing trials using MBDA’s
Advanced Short Range Air to Air Missile (ASRAAM), marking the
first time a British-designed missile has been fired from the
F-35.
