Downing Street Says » Prime Minister’s speech

» Thursday, January 11, 2007

Prime Minister’s speech

Asked for further information on the Prime Minister’s speech tomorrow, the PMOS replied that the speech was a strategic overview of defence for this country since World War II. It was looking at the choice that we now faced, and that choice was: did we remain a major player in defence terms in the world, or did we adopt a more passive role?

Asked if this was trying to engage in a Trident debate, the PMOS said that it was neither a response to President Bush’s speech, nor was it specifically focused on Trident. What it was about was trying to project an analysis of what our defence needs were across the board in a new global era, and also, was the right mix in terms of our defence capability in addressing that, and what that meant in terms of changing that mix.

Asked if the speech was in any way a response to the criticisms there had been over recent months from ex-Generals, commanders, and the stories about cutting back the Royal Navy, the PMOS replied that what the speech was an attempt to analyse, not only why we arrived at the point we had in terms of our defence profile, but also, how that profile needed to be adjusted in terms of the new threats that we faced as a country, and what that meant in practical terms. That did mean addressing issues such as international terrorism, but also the type of conflicts that we were engaged in, as compared to the situation in the past. Therefore, it was a much broader sweep.

Put that this was the Prime Minister’s 6th speech in the series, and how many more would there be, the PMOS replied that the world was full of interesting issues that needed strategic speeches to address them.

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