Ex-Pentagon official urges US to ‘squeeze’ UK on defense amid Falklands furor

A report that Washington could use the Falkland Islands to pressure Britain into meeting its NATO defense commitments drew a swift rebuttal Sunday from a former Pentagon official, who insisted the long-standing U.S. neutrality on the islands remains unchanged.

Morgan Murphy , a former press secretary in the War Department, told Fox News Digital that while Washington has not altered its position on Falklands sovereignty , he believes the Trump administration may apply heavy diplomatic leverage over London's military budget.

"You don’t take the security and skip the bill.

That is free-riding," Murphy said, before adding: "Friends tell friends the check is due.

Squeeze is accountability." The Falklands' dispute escalated after reports emerged that U.K.

Chancellor John Healey is expected to announce that the government will drop its target of spending 3% of gross domestic product on defense by 2030 when he delivers his first budget in October, according to The Financial Times .

TOP US ALLY'S DEFENSE CHIEF QUITS, WARNS MILITARY LACKS RESOURCES FOR RISING THREATS The tension comes amid a six-month Pentagon review of U.S. troop deployments in Europe led by Under Secretary of War for Policy Elbridge Colby, according to Reuters.

As Washington pushes European allies and Canada to take greater responsibility for NATO’s conventional defense, the U.S. is expected to retain a supporting role, including its nuclear deterrent, according to The Associated Press.

"We can’t ‘withdraw support’ for sovereignty of the Falklands that was never there," Murphy said.

"Policy experts know the difference between an unsourced whisper to a British paper that ‘nothing is being ruled out’ and an official word from the White House." Murphy said the U.S. remains neutral on Falkland sovereignty and continues to recognize British administration of the islands.

HEGSETH ANNOUNCES 6-MONTH REVIEW OF AMERICAN FORCES IN EUROPE, BLASTS NATO ALLIES FOR PUTTING TROOPS 'AT RISK' Addressing reports from April of an internal Pentagon email suggesting the U.S. could review its position on the islands, Murphy noted the lack of confirmation.

"I have not seen that email.

The Pentagon did not confirm it.

The official word that followed was the same U.S. position we have now: neutral on sovereignty, recognize British administration," Murphy said.