All That’s Left is a “One Percent” Problem: Deputy Defense Secretary Gordon England told reporters after a Washington conference Monday that he believes the US and Great Britain are “within one percent” of reaching agreement over prickly technology transfer issues with the Joint Strike Fighter. According to Reuters news service, England thinks the two countries can resolve any lingering differences by the middle of June. That is at odds—slightly—with the latest British version, in which talk of back-up plans has emerged should JSF negotiations fail to meet UK expectations.
The U.S. supports “a stronger and more capable” European defense, Defense Secretary Lloyd J. Austin III said during an Oct. 22 press conference in Brussels—but that defense should not duplicate the functions and capabilities of the NATO alliance.