Britain is determined to deepen its “unique defence relationship with the US” in a world where threats are increasing, the Defence Secretary has said.

John Healey insisted that the US would continue to work with the UK on intelligence sharing in the face of the rising Russian aggression in Europe.

His words will start to ease concerns within the defence community after many had expressed concern that Europe would struggle with the US pulling back from Nato because it relies so heavily on intelligence-sharing.

Europe has become dependent on the US in many spheres, including intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance (ISR), and satellite communications, which provide data for integrated air and missile defence and long-range strikes.

Mr Healey met his counterpart, Pete Hegseth, at the Pentagon on Thursday to provide a diplomatic bridge between the US and Europe as the two work to secure a peace deal for Ukraine.

Writing in The Telegraph, Mr Healey revealed that his meeting with the US defence secretary overran by half an hour because “there was so much to discuss”, which he said was “because the UK and US are each other’s closest security allies”.

Mr Healey wrote: “In a world where threats are increasing, I am determined to deepen our unique defence relationship with the US still further in the months and years ahead. No two militaries are more woven together than ours. 

“We will continue to collaborate closely on military operations, exercising, intelligence gathering and the development of advanced technologies.”