The United States has threatened not to support the UK’s sovereignty over the Falkland Islands if Andy Burnham does not commit to an increase in defence spending.
Senior defence officials in the Pentagon are drawing up plans to apply pressure on Nato members that still fail to reach the alliance’s five per cent spending pledge.
A senior US official told The Telegraph that Britain will be examined with “special attention” as Washington assesses its allies’ capability and commitment to increase defence spending.
Describing Sir Keir Starmer’s Defence Investment Plan (Dip) as not enough of a “step in the right direction”, Washington officials’ belief in Britain being a key military partner to the US is wavering.
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“I would expect the UK to receive special attention because it has so much potential,” they said.
“We will therefore continue efforts to incentivise and enable the UK to step up in a major way.”
When questioned about whether the US would change its position on the Falkland Islands, the senior official said: “I can say that conversations are candid and nothing is being ruled out as far as options for encouraging the sort of burden-sharing that we seek.”
The threat from Washington came just hours after Chancellor John Healey faced fury amid speculation about Labour failing to commit to spending three per cent of GDP on defence spending by 2030.
When Mr Healey quit as Defence Secretary in June, he alluded to the Treasury’s “unwillingness” to commit more money to defence.
He said Sir Keir was “unable” to spend the money to further resource the UK’s military.
With Mr Healey now in charge of Britain’s coffers, Whitehall sources have said the Chancellor would not be making any commitments relating to the three per cent figure he advocated for in his previous office in his Budget on October 28.
The US “incentive” planning is part of a broader initiative driven by President Donald Trump to evolve Nato’s dynamic, with a focus on greater burden-sharing on Europe’s behalf.
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Dubbed Nato 3.0, Washington’s ambition is to require European nations and Canada to take principal responsibility for Europe’s conventional defence.
The official said: “We’ve seen the Defence Investment Plan, and it is a step in the right direction.
“But a step in the right direction isn’t enough. Given the scale of challenges facing us and our allies, we need allies like the United Kingdom to step up in major, fundamental ways.
“Fortunately, some already are. We strongly encourage the UK to do likewise.”
While the US adopts a position of neutrality over the Falklands, Washington recognises the UK’s administration of the islands.
In April, a leaked memo from the Pentagon suggested the US should reevaluate its position on the islands to punish Britain’s lack of involvement in the Iranian conflict.
The Falkland Islands Government said in a statement that 99.8 per cent of islanders voted in favour of remaining as a British Overseas Territory.
It said: “The Falkland Islands has complete confidence in the commitment made by the UK Government to uphold and defend our right of self-determination.”
The US’s Secretary of State Marco Rubio played down the leak, saying it was a minor internal decision.
However, it appears the discussion over the Falkland Island’s sovereignty has continued in Virginia.
Elbridge Colby, the Pentagon’s top policy official, held talks yesterday with Nato members in Brussels over the US military withdrawal in Europe.
Warning that some allies had to move faster to replace weapon systems which had long been resourced by the US, he said: “We hope to see more from countries like the United Kingdom.”
He acknowledged the efforts of Germany, Poland, the Netherlands and Scandinavia for stepping up their military efforts.
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