During his first public speech as Defence Secretary, Liam Fox yesterday warned budgets would need to be cut 'ruthlessly' and 'without sentiment'.
Little detail was revealed in his speech before the strategic defence review is carried out to publis
h in the autumn.
But Dr Fox said defending the Falklands Islands and counter-piracy operations in the Gulf would be priorities, as would energy security such as protecting potential oil fields at sea - all primary naval responsibilities.
Dr Fox again refused to rule out cuts in personnel including troops. But in an interview in the Sunday Times he said Britain would need an 'increased maritime role'.
Commentators believe the naval base in Portsmouth and the new city-based aircraft carriers will survive the review, and that the RAF may be the hardest-hit service.
Portsmouth South MP Mike Hancock, who sits on the Commons defence committee, said: 'What the defence review will show is how the navy will become increasingly more important and we cannot run two fights at the same time again, like we have in Iraq and Afghanistan.
By: Brant
Posts
No comments:
Post a Comment