OXFORD, England — It’s time to stop re-litigating Britain’s vote to leave the European Union and focus instead on threats the two countries must defeat together, Defense Secretary Ash Carter said Wednesday.
Carter, speaking at the University of Oxford’s Blavatnik School of Government, said the “special relationship” between the U.S. and the U.K. will endure despite the Brexit vote because the two partners must present a united front against two major security threats: the Islamic State and Russia.
“The Brexit decision does not change all that we have to do together, whether in response to Russian provocation or ISIL’s threats. It does not change the fact that the U.K. will continue to have a rich relationship with countries across Europe economically, politically and militarily. And it does not change all that the United Kingdom, and particularly its military, is doing at home and around the world,” Carter said.
The U.S. secretary, as well as other American officials, had publicly urged the British people to vote for remaining in the European Union to promote stability. But Carter said he respects the decision made this summer and is looking at steps forward.
“We’re committed to continuing to partner together in the months and years ahead. While I said before the vote that I wished it would go the other way, I’m confident the U.S. and the U.K. will now focus on the future,” the secretary said.
“Even with all the change in the world, the inherent logic of our countries’ special relationship still stands — economically, politically and militarily,” he continued. “That was true the day before the Brexit vote, and it is true today.”
Carter is meeting with British Defence Secretary Michael Fallon on Wednesday afternoon in London to discuss the Islamic State fight, which Carter said is in a “decisive phase,” as well as efforts to deter Russian aggression.
Carter talked about the progress the coalition, led by the U.S. and U.K., has made against the Islamic State, including successes on the road to Mosul by retaking key towns Ramadi, Hit, Rutbah, Fallujah and Qayyarah.
“Thanks to the contributions and sacrifices of our local partners, and of British, American, and coalition servicemembers, we’ve accelerated the military campaign, we have the momentum firmly on our side, and we are seeking — this year — to put ISIL on a path to the lasting defeat it will surely suffer and richly deserves,” Carter said.
Carter also discussed efforts to counter Russia’s aggressive moves in Ukraine as well as in the cybersecurity realm, noting that the United States and United Kingdom are leading two of the four additional NATO battalions that will be prepositioned in eastern Europe.
“Let me be clear, the United States does not seek a cold, let alone a hot war with Russia. We don’t seek an enemy in Russia,” Carter said. “But make no mistake: We will counter attempts to undermine our collective security. And we will not ignore attempts to interfere with our democratic processes.”
The U.S. intelligence community is reportedly investigating Russia for hacking into the political systems of countries to influence elections in a way that could benefit Russia.
