US weighs Falklands ultimatum to UK over defence spending

The United States is considering withdrawing its support for Britain's sovereignty over the Falkland Islands unless the UK increases defence spending, according to reports.

The reported proposal is part of the Trump administration's efforts to push Nato allies to meet their 5% defence spending commitment. A senior US official told The Telegraph that Britain would receive "special attention" because of its potential to increase defence investment.

"We will therefore continue efforts to incentivise and enable the UK to step up in a major way," the official said, according to The Independent.

The official indicated that Washington could reconsider its position on Britain's claim to the Falkland Islands, a possibility US President Donald Trump had previously considered.

"I can say that they [conversations] are candid and nothing is being ruled out as far as options for encouraging the sort of burden-sharing that we seek," the official said.

The UK government announced in June a Defence Investment Plan that would take spending to 4.2% of GDP under its broader 5% Nato commitment. Nato allies agreed in 2025 to invest 5% of GDP annually in defence and related security spending by 2035, including at least 3.5% on core defence requirements.

The Treasury confirmed on Friday that Chancellor John Healey's first budget will not set a date for when Britain will reach 3% of GDP in defence spending. Healey, who was previously defence secretary, resigned from that post in June after criticising the government's failure to commit the resources he said were needed to meet growing security threats.

The US official described Britain's Defence Investment Plan as "a step in the right direction" but said this would not be enough.

"Given the scale of challenges facing us and our allies, we need allies like the United Kingdom to step up in major, fundamental ways. Fortunately, some already are. We strongly encourage the UK to do likewise," the official said.

The reported US pressure follows a threat in April, when a leaked Pentagon email suggested Washington could review its support for Britain's Falklands claim over London's lack of support during the Iran war.

The UK Foreign Office has previously considered a change in the US position on the islands but treated it as a "hypothetical scenario".

The Falkland Islands are administered by the UK but remain claimed by Argentina, whose president is an ally of Trump.

Downing Street has insisted that the islands' sovereignty is "not in question". Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch previously dismissed the prospect of a US policy review as "absolute nonsense" and compared it with Trump's earlier threat to annex Greenland.

Admiral Lord West of Spithead, a former Royal Navy commander-in-chief, previously told The Independent that a loss of US support for British sovereignty would have "no impact" militarily.

"The recognition or otherwise by the US does not make the islands less secure," he said.

The Independent said it had approached the White House and Downing Street for comment.