I sicuri tagli al bilancio della Difesa inglese preoccupano gli statunitensi.

"Plans by the British government to make significant cuts in defense spending have spurred concerns among American military experts about Britain’s ability to carry out its role as the United States’ most dependable ally.
A wrenching government spending review has pitted Britain’s army against its navy, spawned a series of leaks to the British media and raised the question of whether the military that emerges from the budget cuts — expected to be 10 percent to 20 percent of current outlays — will be a strategically agile force that can join the United States on major combat operations (…).
The British defense cuts are part of a broader drive by the coalition government led by Prime Minister David Cameron to reduce Britain’s annual government deficit of $240 billion, one of the highest deficits in Europe. The government is to provide details of its proposed cuts to Parliament on Oct. 20.
Longer-term plans call for shrinking the army by about 20 percent and establishing an army structure of five brigades and somewhat smaller airborne and commando units. That would enable Britain to deploy a 6,000-strong force for a prolonged ground operation, but the eventual size of the British Army has not been formally decided.
Whatever budgetary steps the British take have major implications for United States military planning. More than other allies, Britain has displayed both the will to join the United States in the initial phase of military operations and the wherewithal to quickly deploy, sustain and command its own forces.
“They have the capability to go in early on in a crisis, particularly on the ground, to be with us,” said a senior United States Defense Department official, who asked not to be named because of the confidential nature of the continuing consultations. “If they maintain the full-spectrum capability to operate with us quickly on the front end of a conflict, it is helpful. That is what we are watching and talking to them about.”