Robertson: Britain has a global role

Robertson Confirms Global Role of British Forces

Writing in The Independent newspaper, Mr Robertson said that "the early thinking" of the review had noted "that Britain has a leading role in NATO, and that this is a national asset, but that we also have a part to play beyond that, as our permanent place on the UN Security Council suggests".

Later on Wednesday, Mr Robertson will give evidence concerning the review to the House of Commons Defence Committee. One issue he is certain to address is the defence budget.

In his article, Mr Robertson pointed out that the defence spending had been reduced by 23 per cent in real terms since the end of the Cold War in 1989. However, he said, the tasks facing Britain's defence forces had multiplied, as shown by the emergence of conflicts all over the world.

British soldiers face mounting challenges around the world

Mr Robertson wrote: "Slashing our defence spending would in my view completely remove our capacity to mount operations such as those in Bosnia." Such operations, he argued, enjoy popular support in Britain.

At the same time, Mr Robertson has ordered a review of defence spending to root out waste. He intends to change the system of defence procurement, which he considers inefficient and which costs £9 billion per year.

The next phase of the Strategic Defence Review will focus on the organisation of the armed forces in the face of new challenges. "I am determined that we should have the flexible, mobile hi-tech armed forces we will need to face the 21st century," wrote Mr Roberston.