U.S. Ambassador Jane Hartley spoke today at the Farnborough International Airshow to discuss the unparalleled military and intelligence partnership between the United States and the United Kingdom.
Speaking at the USA Partnership Pavilion, Hartley highlighted the deep integration and cooperation between the two nations’ armed forces.
“In the United Kingdom, we have our closest military and intelligence partner in the world,” Hartley declared.
“I’ve been to RAF Lakenheath, where the Royal Air Force hosts American F-15s and F-35s from the United States Air Force’s 48th Fighter Wing. I got to see the capabilities of our fighter planes up close, and how seamlessly our Airmen train and collaborate with our British allies,” she said.
“The level of integration between our two militaries is unlike anything I’ve seen around the world.”
Hartley also praised the UK’s commitment to defence and its role within NATO. “This is a country which commits to its own defence, and to our collective defence under NATO,” she stated, expressing confidence that the strong defence relationship will continue under the new Prime Minister.
She highlighted the deep, multifaceted bonds between the U.S. and the UK, spanning militaries, universities, businesses, and civil society. “The United Kingdom shares our democratic values and is always ready to defend them,” she noted.
Reflecting on historical and current military cooperation, Hartley remarked on the 80th anniversary of D-Day and the ongoing support for Ukraine amidst the Russian invasion.
“From the very first days of the Russian invasion, the government of the United Kingdom has been by our side to support the Ukrainian defence,” she said. Hartley praised the joint efforts in training Ukrainian soldiers and providing them with essential military equipment.
“I visited some of those Ukrainian soldiers training over in Lydd. Many were young men and women, some as young as 18, but a few in their late 50s as well, including a 71-year-old volunteer,” she shared.
The Ambassador’s remarks also touched on the strategic importance of the U.S. aerospace and defence industry. “Every U.S. aerospace and defence company plays a vital role in projecting both American power and American partnerships across the world,” she stated. She commended the innovation and leadership demonstrated by American and British companies, particularly in adapting to and leading advancements in aerospace technology.
“You have a lot to be proud of. You are the best in the world, bar none: from the big names that everyone knows and trusts to the smaller companies that are crucial links in the supply chain,” Hartley said.
“The bonds between our countries’ militaries, universities, media, businesses, and civil society are so deeply intertwined that they withstand the test of time,” she said. “We truly have no closer military relationship than we do with the United Kingdom.”