Lord West, formerly First Sea Lord, said the UK was still a first-rate military power, "not like bloody Denmark or Belgium".
His comments came as Labour delivered the findings of a 10-month review into defence procurement, aimed at getting better value for money from buying equipment for the UK's armed forces.
Speaking in a question and answer session with 100 journalists and guests from the defence industry at Labour headquarters in central London, Lord West said: "This business of a second-tier power - we are probably, depending on what figures you use, the fifth or sixth wealthiest nation in the world.
"We have the largest percentage of our GDP on exports, apart from the tiny countries around the world, we run world shipping from the UK, we are the largest European investor in south Asia, south east Asia (and) the Pacific Rim, so our money and our wealth depends on this global scene.
"We are a permanent member of the (United Nations) Security Council and I think that gives us certain clout and certain ability.
"These mean we are not a second-tier power. We are not bloody Denmark or Belgium, and if we try to become that, I think we would be worse-off as a result. » | Thursday, September 22, 2011
