Wed, Sep 01, 2010
But UK MoD Calls The Notion
"Speculation"
Reports are surfacing out of the UK that Great Britain and
France are getting ready to announce a plan to share aircraft
carriers. The move reportedly would be taken to cut costs in the
defense budgets of both countries, but particularly in Great
Britain.
HMS Ark Royal UK MoD Photo
The Sun newspaper and others report Tuesday that
British PM David Cameron and French President Nicolas Sarkozy
plan to outline the proposal at a summit in November. Those who
claim to be close to the discussions say the scheme would mean that
there would always be an aircraft carrier under a British or French
flag on patrol protecting the interests of both nations. There are
times now that both of Britain's carriers are in port due to their
age.
Among the possible snags, according to the paper, are protocols
for use of a carrier should a British interest, such as the
Falkland Islands, becomes a hot spot while a French carrier is on
duty. But the cost of replacing Britain's two aging carriers is
cited as a factor. There are two replacement carriers already under
construction in the UK which are expected to cost about $8 billion,
and an alliance could make it easier for the British government to
cancel or downgrade one of the ships.
But another report from the UK Ministry of Defense calls the
potential alliance "speculation". The international news service
AFP reports that, while the new Conservative-Liberal Democrat
coalition government in the UK has pledged to cut government
spending and reduce debt, an MoD spokesperson said "The defence
secretary (Liam Fox) has made clear that tough decisions will need
to be made but the complex process of a Strategic Defence and
Security Review will be concluded in the autumn. Speculation at
this stage about its outcome is entirely unfounded."
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