Navy 'comfortable' with Falklands forces
THE head of the Royal Navy said he was "comfortable" with British forces levels in the Falklands amid a flare-up in diplomatic tensions with Argentina.
Admiral Sir Mark Stanhope, the First Sea Lord and Chief of the Naval Staff, last night said the defence of the islands was far stronger than it was at the time of the 1982 invasion by the South American country.
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Admiral Sir Mark Stanhope
Speaking at the International Institute for Strategic Studies in London, Admiral Stanhope, who lives in Exeter, also told an audience that sea power remained "vital" to Britain's defence, as the armed forces prepare for a radical shake-up following the General Election.
After his speech, he told reporters there were currently 1,000 troops stationed in the Falklands as well as a number of RAF aircraft, while the Navy had the Type 42 destroyer HMS York, the patrol craft HMS Clyde, the survey ship HMS Scott, and a Royal Fleet Auxiliary vessel in the area.
"I am comfortable, in terms of the defence of the Falkland Islands, that we have taken this seriously," he said.
"It is a question of matching the forces that we have with the threat that is there. Since 1982 we have built a massive great runway, we have placed forces on the ground, we have sophisticated early warning systems. It is a completely different package."
His comments came after Britain's decision to start exploratory drilling for oil off the islands sparked protests from Argentina at the United Nations in New York.
British ministers have said that the Government would take "whatever steps are necessary" to protect the islands, which had a "legitimate right" to develop an oil industry within their waters.
Earlier, in his speech to the International Institute, Admiral Stanhope told the audience that control of the seas was still a "pre-requisite for success" in many of Britain's military operations.
He is the latest of the three service chiefs to set out his case following the publication of the Government's green paper laying the ground for a strategic defence review once the election is over.
It is widely expected that the forces will face significant cutbacks, whichever party wins, as the next government grapples with Britain's £178 billion deficit.
Admiral Stanhope said the Navy enabled Britain to project power around the world while protecting vital national interests.
"Maritime forces benefit from unique attributes which allow them to be used, not only operationally to fight, on land, sea and in the air, all over the world, but also strategically to contain and prevent conflict from happening in the first place," he said.
"They can deliver a range of effects on behalf of a Government seeking choice in its means of response to a developing threat to UK interests, whether a warship acting alone or as part of a multinational joint task force."
Admiral Stanhope stressed the essential role played by carrier-based aircraft and amphibious forces in recent British military campaigns, adding: "Since the end of the Cold War, these important maritime capabilities have never been more in demand."








10 Comments
by robert spencer, swaffham norfolk uk
Monday, March 08 2010, 6:17PM
“royal navy is your insurance policy , without it ,the uk would have no say in europe or the world , the french or germans will never fight for the uk, or any country today”
by criss whicker, london herts
Sunday, February 28 2010, 11:33PM
“to jen kernow , sadly you are wrong. if your council had billions it would still close the home. their doing it everywhere.
mr england, remember all the brave scots/welsh/irish/english/and others who have fought and died for this country. we are all BRITISH. and comments lke that and from this goverment just hasten the break up or the greatest union on planet earth. this goverment and other traitors in the uk. would love to see this country break up and sold into the european union of idiots money grasping unelected people. the only future for us. if we do not want to go the same way as other great countrys . is to go it alone and stand up to the world and say WEare british and proud of it , we may not be perfect and we may sometime get it wrong and screw things up. but this is the way we are. a great country standing united together in the face of a bad and violent world. even our so called american friends wont back us yet are quite happy to ecept our help when they need it. compared to the certain other europeans who just dont care. if we have to go to war over the falklands so be it. . we should show the world we can and will protect all brithish people whe pleade for our help. are we now cowards insted of men. ar we not british. insted of 3 diferent peoples that hate each other. stand together my friends or we wil go under and the rest of the word will be happy , untill the next time they need hep and we wont be their. ..scotland and wales and england, and northern irland should sign to remain one country GREAT BRITAIN forever. and end this rubbish over scottish inderpendence. as we both know that mr salmon has already got eropean promise of money. so he cons the scots into beliving that they dont want to be ruled by westminster 500 miles away. but forgets to tell the scots . when the eropeans want their money back .and they wil scotland will be ruled by an unelected goverment 1000 thousand miles away in europe. but when you go it will be to late to come back. as you will have broken up the uk.
so please everyone forget these stupid differences and remember you are british weneber you like it or not. stand united and we will get through the hard times as well as the easy times. these islands we live on . that were here thousands of years before us were not called and never was called the scottish isles//englsh isles/wesh isles/irish isles/ they were and are THE BRITISH ISLES
of great britain . british then//british now. and hopefullly god preserve british always. thank you and sleep tight .”
by Jen, Kernow - Cornwall
Friday, February 26 2010, 8:43AM
“We are facing losing a day centre for the elderly in Penzance which provides vital facilities because the trust will not accept private or public money donated to keep it open. The original founders in Ireland with whom Cornwall shares a close affinity have even offered the money to run the place. And then you expect us to care about the silly armed forces who are paid billions to kill ? The money would be better spent on the real things in life like care of the elderly, pensions, health, education, employment training and so on. No sane person can possibly support money wasted on arms. As someone has said, the Empire has gone - get used to it !!!!”
by max power, st austell
Thursday, February 25 2010, 10:37PM
“Thank God we have a special relationship with the US!
Oh, wait a minute...
Obama refuses to back Britain in Falkland dispute...”
by Pawl, Kernow
Thursday, February 25 2010, 10:04PM
“Until Scotland achieves independence which it hopefully will, the defence forces are BRITISH 'Me, England' and NOT ENGLISH. I hope in the break up of Britain but until that time, I have every right to comment on British matters. Remember, there is a big difference between ENGLAND and BRITAIN and indeed the UK. Read it up some time.”
by Me, England
Thursday, February 25 2010, 6:51PM
“Pawl, Kernow
Keep your nose out of our country!!”
by Allan, Brasil
Thursday, February 25 2010, 3:43PM
“Three excellent comments. About time people saw that the the U.K. is finished. Thanks to the government bowing down to Europe and their demands.One wonders who will pick up the U.K. left overs in the future? If indeed anyone will be interested.The U.K. certainly does have the biggest self destruct button and the finger has not been off it for years.”
by Roger, Devon
Thursday, February 25 2010, 1:27PM
“What a sad state of affairs we are in. We have a navy with more Admirals than ships,
We a have a Prime Minister with more spin than action.
We pay millions DAILY into a European Union that few of us want, that gives us little but takes all, that could never be relied on to help us.
A Country sinking fast.”
by Charles Henry 1945-(diuturnity), Somersetshire
Thursday, February 25 2010, 12:05PM
“:| Those who think Europe can ever keep them, defend them and give them succour; dream on! . The NATO alliance is our only surety. . The first sign of trouble and the Europeans all start waving white flags. And as Nigel Farage pointed out yesterday, with a new European Council President like a "low-grade bank clerk" with the "charisma of a damp rag", Europe is becoming as consequential and useful as a broken zip!”
by Pawl, Kernow
Thursday, February 25 2010, 9:32AM
“Start looking for a new job Admirable. The cuts are coming and not before time. The Empire has gone now.”