John Healey has suggested he wants to “refresh” the special relationship with the United States, just hours after Donald Trump reignited a row over the Falklands Islands.
The US president suggested he was reconsidering US support for Britain’s sovereignty over the Falkland Islands – remarks which are likely to inflame tensions with the UK even further. The islands are administered by the UK but are claimed by Argentina, whose president, Javier Millei, is an ally of Mr Trump.
But speaking to The Times, the chancellor insisted that, “just like in defence, the US is the UK’s most important economic partner”.
Mr Healey added: “We’ve got about 1.3 million Brits that work in American companies, vice versa. We’re heavily invested in each other’s countries. The UK is the biggest, the largest investor in 21 of the US states.
“But with any relationship, it requires refreshing with every generation.”
Asked on Monday whether he was reviewing the US’s position over the Falkland Islands, an archipelago whose status has long been disputed by Argentina, Mr Trump said: “I always review every position – that’s just one of many”.
Since 1982, the US has generally avoided taking sides on the issue of the Falklands. Mr Trump’s comments come after a report suggesting the US was considering an ultimatum on Britain’s sovereignty of the islands if it did not increase defence spending.
Mr Healey, who resigned as Sir Keir Starmer’s defence secretary after arguing the previous government was not spending enough on Britain’s military, also insisted he is “100 per cent” committed to target of increasing spending to 3 per cent of GDP, and is now offering a timeline in which he will do so.
He said defence will be “central to the spending review” taking place next year, with the government shooting for not just 3 per cent but the higher 3.5 per cent “core defence” target that Sir Keir signed up to at a Nato summit in The Hague last year.
“For the first time at the spending review, we will set out a clear path about how we will meet that Nato commitment in 2035: 3.5 per cent of GDP. As Burnham has said on his first day as prime minister, we will fully meet our commitments to our allies. And as part of setting out that clear path, we will set that target date for 3 per cent”, he said.
Mr Healey is under significant pressure from his US allies to boost defence spending, as Mr Trump increasingly presses Europe to pay its own way on defence and stop relying on US protection.
The chancellor said: “The world has become more dangerous. The threats are increasing and we’re stepping up further.
“There’s always difficult decisions as chancellor. The most difficult decisions come to the chancellor and the prime minister in government.”
