London, United Kingdom (AHN) – Britain is considering slashing its armed forces as well as scrapping a flagship aircraft carrier as part of an overall public sector cut. Prime Minister David Cameron disclosed his government’s plan to layoff a total of 17,000 service personnel from British Army, Royal Air Force and Royal Navy in next five years.

However, he said that proposed cuts would not affect Britain’s level of support for forces in war-hit Afghanistan.

Cameron further said that Royal Navy’s flagship HMS Ark Royal aircraft carrier as well as Britain’s fleet of Harrier jets would also be scrapped immediately as part of an 8 percent cut to its $58 billion Defense Ministry budget.

The premier said that he wanted to retain and renew the Trident nuclear deterrent, hence, delayed any decision on it until 2016. Speaking to parliamentarians at the House of Commons, Cameron said that his government had received around $60 billion of debts in inheritance in the defense budget when it assumed power six months ago.

The prime minister said that his government could not go on like this. “Britain has traditionally punched above its weight in the world and we should have no less ambition for our country in the decades to come. But we need to be more thoughtful, more strategic, and more coordinated in the way we advance our interests and protect our national security and that is what this review sets out to achieve,” he added.

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