Teaming up with the US on AI defense is exactly the kind of alliance Britain should be striking, because AI now sits at the heart of national security. Linking up the UK and US defense AI outfits to shield infrastructure from maritime routes to airspace sends a real message to adversaries. Britain steadied the world in the financial crisis and can lead again on AI.
A shiny tech pact is a distraction from a trip where Britain turns up empty-handed, with no state visit left to dangle, no plan to hit the 3.5 percent defense pledge and a president casually musing about a united Ireland. Voters are already deeply pessimistic about AI and want serious regulation, not photo ops. Handing AI leadership to a middle-ranking minister while dodging the hard debate is failure.
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