Select committee: Defence Committee
Recommendation 10
Sixth Report - Special Relationships? US, UK and NATO
Published 7 Mar 2023
Paragraph 52
Addressed to Ministry of Defence
Defence Committee US, UK and NATO All items in this report Report on parliament.uk ↗ Inquiry on parliament.uk ↗
Recommendation (the committee's words)
The Joint Expeditionary Force has proven itself to be effective, acting as a force multiplier for both its constituent countries and NATO. We have heard that the UK should focus its efforts within NATO on the High North. Given that UK Defence is calling for greater NATO focus on the High North, it appears obvious that under the SACEUR’s new regional plans the UK should be looking to reinforce the borders of its JEF counterparts. We therefore recommend that the Government ensure that it has the necessary personnel and capabilities available to lead NATO operations in the High North.
From: Defence Committee, Sixth Report - Special Relationships? US, UK and NATO (HC 184), paragraph 52, 7 March 2023
Government response
The government responded to the whole report on 22 June 2023 (deadline 7 May 2023).
Summary written by Accountability Index from the government's response. It is not the government's own words.The government's response welcomes the Committee's recognition of the UK-US relationship, and states that it "agrees" on several points, including the value of that relationship, closer allied engagement and the importance of effective deterrence.
- On the US relationship, the Department "agrees that the UK derives great value from the US relationship", and "agrees on the need for even closer engagement and alignment between close allies".
- On US regulatory barriers, it says they are a "significant barrier", and that "work is underway" with the US Administration and Congress "to make some headway in pursuing reforms or exemptions for the UK and Australia".
- On munitions and industrial capacity, it states it will update the Committee on plans for industrial capacity and munitions stockpiles "in due course". It does not state that it will produce the action plan the Committee recommended.
- On the EU, it supports NATO-EU cooperation but states: "we will not support any measures that undermine our sovereignty over our own armed forces", or that lead to competition or duplication with NATO.