Former Pentagon spokesman warns US may pressure UK over defense spending and Falklands stance

Morgan Murphy, who served as a press secretary at the Pentagon, told one outlet that the United States continues to recognize British administration of the Falkland Islands and has not altered its neutral stance on the territory’s sovereignty. He warned that the Trump administration may employ "heavy diplomatic leverage" to compel London to fulfill its NATO defence-spending obligations, labeling the current approach as "free-riding."

Murphy cited upcoming UK budget announcements that are likely to abandon the 3% of GDP defence target by 2030, noting that projected spending would reach about 2.7% by that year and that NATO allies have pledged higher spending at the 2025 Hague Summit. His remarks arrive amid a six-month Pentagon review of U.S. troop deployments in Europe led by Under Secretary of War for Policy Elbridge Colby, and as the United States seeks greater European and Canadian contributions to conventional defence while retaining its nuclear umbrella.

A UK government spokesperson emphasized Britain’s role as NATO’s third-largest defence spender and its nuclear deterrent commitment. Murphy concluded that Washington could use tools such as public pressure and potential tariffs to "squeeze" the UK’s budget, arguing this would serve the security interests of both nations.