MATTIS IN LONDON: As this edition of the newsletter is hitting your inbox, Defense Secretary Jim Mattis is just finishing a news conference with British Defense Minister Sir Michael Fallon in London. Wearing matching dark suits and royal blue ties, both secretaries said Great Britain’s exit from the European Union will in no way diminish the special relationship and strong bonds between the two stalwart allies. “You are visiting our capital at a historic moment,” said Fallon in stressing that the U.K.’s Brexit does not mean Britain is pulling back from its global security commitments, and promised “an even more dynamic security relationship” with the U.S. Fallon also announced a $90 million contract with BAE Systems to maintain its newly acquired F-35s.

Mattis hailed the U.S.-U.K “special relationship” as a source of strength between the two nations, and said “Britain’s global leadership is needed today as much as anytime in history.” He then took questions from reporters: