As the UK sends its only aircraft carrier to the Pacific, the defense secretary warns Britain risks being seen as 'a paper tiger'

Reuters

• The UK announced on Monday that it is sending its only carrier to the Pacific.
• The British government has repeatedly said it was planning to increase its presence in the Asia-Pacific region.
• British Defense Secretary Gavin Williamson said Monday that Western powers need to be ready to back their interests.

Western powers should be prepared to back their interests with military power just as Britain is prepared to send its new aircraft carrier to the Pacific, British Defence Secretary Gavin Williamson said on Monday.

Speaking in London at the Royal United Services Institute, a British think tank, Williamson said Western allies must be prepared to “use hard power to support our interests”, and failing to intervene against aggressive foreign powers “risks our nation being seen as little more than a paper tiger.”See the rest of the story at Business Insider

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