Govt, US agree on robust defence spending
Saturday, 16 October 2010
WASHINGTON, Oct 15 (AFP): The United States and the government are in agreement on the need for NATO countries to maintain "a sufficient level of defense investment," an advisor to US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton said.
Clinton met Foreign Secretary William Hague on the sidelines of a NATO meeting in Brussels Thursday, where she had warned against plans to slash Britain's military spending.
"She and the Foreign Secretary agreed on how important it will be for NATO allies to maintain a sufficient level of defense investment," her senior advisor Philippe Reines told reporters Thursday.
Clinton also "underscored how proud the United States is to stand shoulder to shoulder with Britain on all of our shared security challenges and how confident we are in our future cooperation," Reines added.
The comments came ahead of a defense review next week where the government is seeking a reduction of up to 10 percent in the Ministry of Defense's budget between 2011 and 2015
Clinton met Foreign Secretary William Hague on the sidelines of a NATO meeting in Brussels Thursday, where she had warned against plans to slash Britain's military spending.
"She and the Foreign Secretary agreed on how important it will be for NATO allies to maintain a sufficient level of defense investment," her senior advisor Philippe Reines told reporters Thursday.
Clinton also "underscored how proud the United States is to stand shoulder to shoulder with Britain on all of our shared security challenges and how confident we are in our future cooperation," Reines added.
The comments came ahead of a defense review next week where the government is seeking a reduction of up to 10 percent in the Ministry of Defense's budget between 2011 and 2015