LONDON — A top US defense official believes the British vote to leave the European Union should not impact its military industrial relationship with America but admits that the move caught the Pentagon by surprise.
Speaking in London ahead of the Farnborough International Airshow, Frank Kendall, the Pentagon's top weapons buyer, acknowledged that the results of June's referendum was "a surprise … it was not anticipated" in Washington.
However, he said, "I don't see right now any reason why it should fundamentally affect our relationship with the UK or our business deals with the UK."
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"I think there may be some financial impacts on the UK, and the UK will have to sort [that] out. I think that will take some time," Kendall said. "I think the UK's requirements for military equipment are not impacted by Brexit. I would hope not, by any event. ... My hope is there would not be an impact, which I think is good."
Uncertainty, of course, is the rule of thumb with Brexit at the moment. No one is clear exactly when, how or even if the UK will go through with breaking from the EU, and Parliament is currently embroiled in political infighting as part of the referendum's fallout.
Kendall said that until that "fairly lengthy process" is sorted, it won't be clear the full-scale impact on industry.
The defense industry is keeping a wary eye on that process, with potential cuts to the defense budget possible as a result of the pound tumbling versus the dollar.
Email: amehta@defensenews.com
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Aaron Mehta was deputy editor and senior Pentagon correspondent for Defense News, covering policy, strategy and acquisition at the highest levels of the Defense Department and its international partners.
