Source · Select Committees · Public Accounts Committee
Recommendation 25
25
Acknowledged
International developments highlight importance of strategic partnerships for interoperable defence equipment.
Conclusion
Recent international developments, including the war in Ukraine, have underlined the importance of strategic international partnerships for the UK.79 The UK has been working with its allies, including Ukraine, to develop interoperable equipment, pool essential munitions and encourage industry to build its capacity to supply the equipment they need.80
Government Response Summary
The government agrees with the importance of strategic international partnerships and describes its ongoing efforts to capitalize on the UK's convening power, review allied support, and engage industry, with a target implementation date of Spring 2025.
Government Response
Acknowledged
HM Government
Acknowledged
6.1 The government agrees with the Committee’s recommendation. Target implementation date: Spring 2025 6.2 To address the threats to the UK in a more contested and volatile world, and to leave adversaries in no doubt the ability and willingness to fight and win, Defence must possess balanced and credible capabilities across all domains. 6.3 The department capitalises on the UK’s reputation as a convening power and the strength of the Defence Network to drive a cooperative and mutually supportive burden-sharing approach to effectively counter malign threats and support global stability. 6.4 Support provided by NATO allies, but also through allies in other groupings and beyond the Euro-Atlantic Theatre, is well understood. Such support will continue to be reviewed as part of capability planning processes and is rigorously scrutinised during planned force testing. The risks and dependencies identified by such force testing events are captured and regularly reviewed to ensure they can be mitigated, and that they inform future UK policy and investment decisions. 6.5 Where the UK must maintain a wholly sovereign capability, as has been announced in the case of munitions, complex weapons, and uncrewed systems, Defence will continue to work with UK industry to ensure that they have the capacity to continue to sustain the capabilities required to protect the UK and its interests.