White House reacts to London's NSS

WASHINGTON, Oct. 19 (UPI) -- Washington appreciates the British commitment to act as an effective military partner in the world, U.S. President Barack Obama said.

The British government rolled out its national security strategy Tuesday, a document that addresses "a complex array of threats from a myriad of sources."

London said it would cut its defense budget by around 8 percent, saying the move was a reflection of the changing threat environment.

On the chopping block is the British navy's Ark Royal carrier, a move that could pave the way for two new carriers in the British fleet. The BBC reports, however, that this means the British military won't be able to launch jets from a naval platform until at least 2019.

Personnel levels in the British military, meanwhile, are expected to decline by more than 10,000 during the next five years while plans to renew a Trident missile program are pushed back to at least 2015.

British Prime Minister David Cameron said the new strategy, despite the cuts, would ensure a "secure and resilient United Kingdom."

Obama said in a statement that he respected the Cameron government and welcomed its "commitment to retain the full spectrum of military capabilities that permits our forces to partner effectively together around the world."