Thornberry on United Kingdom's Commitment to National Defense

Washington, DC, July 9, 2015
WASHINGTON - Rep. Mac Thornberry (R-TX), Chairman of the House Armed Services Committee, made the following statement in response to the United Kingdom's commitment to national defense announced by the Chancellor of Exchequer as part of his annual budget statement:

Rep. Mac Thornberry (R-TX), Chairman of the House Armed Services Committee, made the following statement in response to the United Kingdom's commitment to national defense announced by the Chancellor of Exchequer as part of his annual budget statement:

“Word that our friends in the United Kingdom plan to meet their NATO pledge to spend at least 2% of their national income on defense is not only welcome news, it is well-timed. It sends a strong signal to both adversaries and allies alike that global security is an international priority. I am hopeful other NATO partners will follow suit. The United States is most effective in encouraging others to meet their obligations if we lead by example and stop the decline in—and refuse to play politics with—our own defense budgets.”