<p><br /> US military chiefs have backed Britain to remain a major military power despite sweeping spending cuts.<br /> </p><p><br /> Pentagon press secretary Geoff Morrell said in a statement: "We are confident that the UK will continue to have the capacity to provide top-tier fighting forces in Afghanistan and other future missions in defense of our shared interests and security.<br /> </p><p><br /> "We are pleased that the UK clearly intends to maintain its historical role as a leading nation that shapes global security, and the fourth largest military budget in the world."<br /> </p><p><br /> The vote of confidence came a day after the Government announced that the Ministry of Defence's £36.9 billion budget will be cut by 8 per cent in real terms over the next four years, lower than the average 25 per cent cuts faced by other departments.<br /> </p><p><br /> Britain's armed forces review, the first since 1998, calls for a military with fewer people, fewer ships, fewer aircraft, fewer nuclear warheads and a smaller budget.<br /> </p><p><br /> Senior US politicians, including Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, had voiced concerns that cuts would hamper Britain's ability to help US forces in conflicts worldwide.<br /> </p>
