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Subject: Top UK military allies after US
Herc the Merc    7/14/2007 1:33:05 AM
Who would u rank in order of military importance? not ethnic alliances or EU considerations only or unconditional support--eg if Aussieland is considered a close ally but simply does not have mass to be a significant military in large large wars and hence would be disqualified, e.g UK & Australia could not have countered Germany and Japan.
 
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french stratege       7/14/2007 5:42:09 PM
The closest ally of UK is France after US (or in parallel).
 
France and UK have conducted together several operation like Suez in 56.
 
Collaboration is at highest level
ht*p://www.dasasurveys.mod.uk/php/dp/index.php?c=-1&l=both&m=english
 
There is exchange of top executives in both MOD and also at operational level.
Only the British have access to some level of secret in France defense
Only French and US have access to some level of secret in British defense
 
UK also has trusted enough France to have big dependancies in weapon procurement from the french and have allowed France to purchase key British defense assets.They have obtained garantees from us.
Also our armed forces are very similar in size, equipement, quality  and missions, and also complementary.
Our strategic national interest are common as former empires with lot of oversea territories, democratic nations, a worlwide diplomacy and the will to exist facing new challenge like India or China, to preserve our foreign assets and investment.
Indeed UK lack of strategic equipement and have to benefit of USA assets OR French as a secondary provider.
As long UK has the French links, USA are compelled to give more to UK to counter balance.
If France would not cooperate with UK, UK would fell immediately in a vassal position to USA.
 
UK has the permanent challenge to choose between USA and France as its main ally.
And benefit of both with the competition.
Of course French dreams UK break the link with USA and that we could invest in more common equipement and assets.
We would have liked UK to purchase M51 and Rafale (or a new common UK.french fighter) instead of Trident and F35.
 
For internal Europe policy and economic issues, Germany is France key partner.
For external Europe policy and defense issues, UK is France key partner
 
In my personal adress book, there is much more UK executives than German or Italians.
 
 
 
 
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Hugo       7/15/2007 10:58:55 AM

Well this turned into another f*** fest fast.

Englands oldest ally is Portugal, I believe.



Wouldn't it be Denmark on account of the last Anglo Saxon King, Harold, being supported by the Danes?
 
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Yimmy       7/15/2007 11:10:10 AM



Well this turned into another f*** fest fast.

Englands oldest ally is Portugal, I believe.




Wouldn't it be Denmark on account of the last Anglo Saxon King, Harold, being supported by the Danes?


Hmmm, I don't think we have a formal written treaty with them (well we probably do now what with our partnership in NATO and all, but not dating from back then.)

I think Portugal is our oldest real treaty for mutual defence.
 
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Yimmy       7/15/2007 11:18:25 AM

>

"Britain and Portugal have had a Treaty of Alliance since 1373 when the English fought alongside the Portuguese Royal House of Avis at the battle of Aljubarrota against Spain. The two nations signed the Treaty of Windsor in May 1386 formally confirming the alliance which has been the cornerstone of their bilateral foreign policy for more than 600 years. The final seal on that alliance was the royal marriage in 1387 between Philippa of Lancaster, daughter of John of Gaunt, Duke of Lancaster, and João I of Portugal.  Bilateral trade flourished through English warehouses in Oporto. Cod and cloth were exchanged for wine, cork, salt, and oil. And the couple’s youngest son Henrique (Prince Henry the Navigator) paved the way for Portugal’s Golden Age with his sea voyages of discovery.

Almost 300 years later Britain responded to Portugal’s request for help against threats from France by signing in June 1661 a military treaty in which Britain pledged to defend Portugal. This was sealed by another royal wedding. Charles II married the Infanta Catharine of Braganza who introduced tea to Britain, as well as bringing a dowry of two million cruzados, Tangiers and Bombay. "

"In the 18th and 19th centuries Portugal and Britain continued to support each other. In 1700 France declared war on Britain and asked Portugal to close her ports to British ships. Portugal’s response was to join Britain and the Netherlands in May 1703 in a ‘Grand Alliance’ against the French and Spanish Bourbon dynasty, as requested by Britain’s emissary, John Methuen. "

"In 1807 when Napoleon marched into Lisbon and the royal family fled to Brazil, Portugal invoked the Treaty of Windsor of 1386. British Generals, including Beresford and Wellington, came to defend Portugal and Napoleon was defeated 3 years later. As a result, Britain was allowed to trade directly with Brazil. "
 
 
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Yimmy       7/15/2007 11:21:49 AM
Sorry to post three times in a row, but...

"In 1807 when Napoleon marched into Lisbon and the royal family fled to Brazil, Portugal invoked the Treaty of Windsor of 1386."

I think the above really does emphasise nicely the extent of the history of modern Europe.
 
 
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Hugo       7/15/2007 12:36:56 PM

Sorry to post three times in a row, but...

"In 1807 when Napoleon marched into Lisbon and the royal family fled to
Brazil, Portugal invoked the Treaty of Windsor of 1386."

I think the above really does emphasise nicely the extent of the history of modern Europe.
 


Your're right of course, I was just being inquisitive.
 
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Armchair Private       7/15/2007 8:54:50 PM

The closest ally of UK is France after US (or in parallel).

 

France and UK have conducted together several operation like Suez in 56.

 

Collaboration is at highest level

ht*p://www.dasasurveys.mod.uk/php/dp/index.php?c=-1&l=both&m=english

 

There is exchange of top executives in both MOD and also at operational level.

Only the British have access to some level of secret in France defense

Only French and US have access to some level of secret in British defense

 

UK also has trusted enough France to have big dependancies in weapon procurement from the french and have allowed France to purchase key British defense assets.They have obtained garantees from us.

Also our armed forces are very similar in size, equipement, quality  and missions, and also complementary.

Our strategic national interest are common as former empires with lot of oversea territories, democratic nations, a worlwide diplomacy and the will to exist facing new challenge like India or China, to preserve our foreign assets and investment.

Indeed UK lack of strategic equipement and have to benefit of USA assets OR French as a secondary provider.

As long UK has the French links, USA are compelled to give more to UK to counter balance.

If France would not cooperate with UK, UK would fell immediately in a vassal position to USA.

 

UK has the permanent challenge to choose between USA and France as its main ally.

And benefit of both with the competition.

Of course French dreams UK break the link with USA and that we could invest in more common equipement and assets.

We would have liked UK to purchase M51 and Rafale (or a new common UK.french fighter) instead of Trident and F35.

 

For internal Europe policy and economic issues, Germany is France key partner.

For external Europe policy and defense issues, UK is France key partner

 

In my personal adress book, there is much more UK executives than German or Italians.

 

 

 

and the french did us a few favours (for sailors - ahem) in the falklands, though apparently thats because Thatcher convinced Mittearand she'd use nukes otherwise ;-)
 
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Panther       7/15/2007 11:42:36 PM

Well this turned into another f*** fest fast.

Englands oldest ally is Portugal, I believe.



Every time i think, hear or read about our alliance and the "special relationship" between the US-UK, my mind constantly comes back to the oldest alliance between two sovereign states. What is it now... 500-600 year's or more?
 
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french stratege       7/16/2007 9:06:10 AM
A very good move for Portugal indeed which survived 6 centuries of trouble while a tiny nation.
They got a huge empire and no one took it.
They had Spain at their borders and Spain never dare to take it for centuries.
Portugal have bet on the right horse!
 
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Herc the Merc    Some analysts suggested India as #2 Military ally moving forward   7/20/2007 2:21:52 AM
India as the 2nd most important military ally in event of major war.
 

India will remain key strategic ally: Britain.

COPYRIGHT 2004 Financial Times Ltd.

(From Press Trust of India)

London, May 14 (PTI) Britain on Friday asserted that India will remain its key strategic ally despite a change in the government there.

"The UK-India bilateral relationship, which grew to new level in the last few years is important for the UK, and India...
 
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