Britain's high level of military dependence on the United States is "no longer tenable," according to former NATO Secretary General George Robertson. In comments reported by The Guardian on April 22, 2026, Robertson argued that the UK must become more strategically independent from its "special relationship" with Washington.
Lord Robertson, who served as NATO's chief from 1999 to 2003 and was UK Defence Secretary from 1997 to 1999, made the remarks in the context of a new report from the UK's Defence Select Committee. The report warns that the British military's heavy reliance on American equipment, spare parts, and munitions creates significant vulnerabilities, particularly in a potential high-intensity conflict.
The Defence Committee's analysis, published on April 21, 2026, highlighted critical shortages in key areas such as air defense missiles and artillery shells. It stated that the UK's armed forces are not equipped for a sustained peer-on-peer war. Robertson endorsed these findings, stating that the current level of dependence "should worry us all."
Robertson's intervention follows his recent criticism of British political leaders for allowing a "hollowing out" of the armed forces over decades. He emphasized the need for increased national defense spending and industrial capacity to ensure the UK can operate effectively alongside, but not wholly dependent on, its closest ally.
