THE United States has reportedly discussed using its position on the Falkland Islands as leverage to pressure the UK into increasing defence spending.
Pentagon officials are said to be considering whether a review of Washington’s stance on the islands could form part of a wider effort to push Nato allies towards a target of spending 5% of GDP on defence.
The Telegraph reported that a senior US official said the UK was likely to receive “special attention” as Washington assesses whether Nato members have credible plans to meet the alliance’s spending ambitions.
Prime Minister Andy Burnham and Chancellor John Healey, whose first Budget is not expected to commit the UK to spending 3% of GDP on defence by 2030, will take place on October 28.
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The US officially takes a neutral position on sovereignty over the Falklands while recognising British administration of the islands. Argentina continues to claim the territory, which the UK Government maintains is a sovereign British Overseas Territory.
The reported discussions come amid a wider US review of its military posture in Europe, with Donald Trump’s administration seeking to shift more responsibility for defence onto European Nato members and Canada.
In July, Nato chief Mark Rutte had called on member states to present “credible” plans for reaching the commitment of spending 5% of economic output on defence by 2035 which was agreed at The Hague last year.
A senior US official told The Telegraph: “I would expect the UK to receive special attention because it has so much potential.
“We will therefore continue efforts to incentivise and enable the UK to step up in a major way.”
Asked whether the US could alter its approach to the Falklands, the official added: “I can say that they [conversations] are candid and nothing is being ruled out as far as options for encouraging the sort of burden-sharing that we seek.”
The official said the UK’s defence investment plan had represented progress, but argued it did not go far enough.
“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.”
An internal Pentagon memo leaked in April reportedly first raised the possibility of reviewing US policy on the Falklands as a diplomatic tool in dealings with Nato allies.
US secretary of state Marco Rubio was said at the time to have downplayed the document as a minor internal matter. However, the Telegraph reported that discussions within the Pentagon were continuing.
Elbridge Colby, the Pentagon’s top policy official, this week met Nato representatives in Brussels to discuss the scale and pace of a potential reduction in US forces in Europe.
He reportedly warned that some allies had to move faster to replace weapons systems and capabilities long provided by Washington.
“We hope to see more from countries like the United Kingdom,” Colby told reporters, while praising Germany, Poland, the Netherlands and Scandinavian countries.
He added that European allies needed to make “major efforts to step up” so Europe could be put “in a lasting position where it’s going to be able to lead its own defence”.
Nato countries have committed to spend 3.5% of GDP on defence, alongside a further 1.5% on security-related infrastructure, by 2035.
A Pentagon review is expected to inform decisions on troop numbers and locations in Europe, with US defence secretary Pete Hegseth reportedly due to be presented with options in November.
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