The British military’s $59 billion budget, which makes it the fourth-biggest defense spender in the world, took an 8 percent cut, with much of that falling on the Navy. Its fleet of Harrier jets will be decommissioned, as well as one of the country’s two aircraft carriers that can handle those jets. The British Air Force and Navy will lose 5,000 personnel each, the Army will lose 7,000, and the Defense ministry will lose 25,000 staff. The cuts will also mean less investment in unmanned drones and a delay in the renewal of a submarine-launched nuclear deterrent. However, special forces and intelligence services received a boost.
British Prime Minister David Cameron sought to assure the US on Tuesday that it would continue being a “first-rate military power and a robust ally” of the US, despite the defense cuts.
