General Sir Richard Barrons, warned the UK should be concerned over its defence if the US does not appoint a candidate for the position of Supreme Allied Commander of Europe
General Sir Richard Barrons, former commander of the Joint Forces Command, has issued a stark warning about the future of UK defence.
He expressed his concerns during a conversation with Times Radio, discussing potential issues that could arise from an increasingly isolationist American military under Donald Trump’s administration.
He revealed there was “a rumour that perhaps the US wouldn’t replace the American General who is the Supreme Allied Commander of Europe and perhaps to allow that to be filled by a European”.
The current Supreme Allied Commander (SACEUR) is General Christopher G Cavoli, who assumed the role on July 4, 2022.
The implications of such a decision, according to General Sir Richard, would unequivocally indicate America’s withdrawal from Europe as Trump’s pro-Russia administration removes the military protection it has provided for over 80 years.
In his words: “That would be totemic because that is the clearest possible signal of the US potentially disconnecting from leading European defence and leading NATO and we should be really concerned.”
The seasoned military commander clarified a common misconception about the American defence review. It’s not that Europe and the UK lack the funds for defence, but rather they’ve chosen not to allocate them, reports the Express.
This is largely due to the perceived security provided by the US military and the post-Cold War euphoria that led governments to deprioritise military spending, under the assumption that war was unlikely in the near future.
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However, the conflict in Ukraine and Trump’s insistence on pushing Ukraine towards an uneasy peace, despite being the invaded party, has forced Europe to reassess its stance.
This has resulted in the launch of a €150Bn rearmament fund. This fund excludes the USA, the UK, and Turkey unless these nations sign defence and security agreements with Brussels.
This development has taken UK officials by surprise, particularly as the UK government, under both Tory and Labour leadership, has been at the forefront of advocating for increased military unity.
The Financial Times reveals a senior defence industry source’s frustration over exclusion, commenting: “We see a huge amount of opportunity and it’s right the UK is seen as part of Europe. But if the EU – and especially France – is going to be transactional about this, it undermines the entire philosophy of a joint and unified Europe in defence and security terms.”
While tensions simmer over access to the rearmament fund, UK and EU figures are seeking middle ground, with the EU’s High Representative for Foreign Affairs Kaja Kalllas having met with Britain’s Foreign and Defence Secretaries, David Lammy and John Healey, to thrash out details before the crucial EU-UK summit slated for May.
Expressing optimism, Kallas remarked that the EU aims to “working on having this defence and security partnership with the UK…I am really hoping that for the summit…we can have results…the understanding that we need to do more and do it together is there”.
