Source · Select Committees · Defence Committee
Recommendation 3
3
Acknowledged
Assess UK leadership in replacing US defence capabilities and supporting EU development programmes
Recommendation
The US needs to see European investment in defence capabilities for there to be any chance of an orderly transition of responsibilities. The Government should assess where the UK can lead in terms of replacing US capabilities in the event of them being withdrawn and establishing how it can best support EU capability development programmes, particularly those referenced in ‘ReArm Europe Plan/Readiness 2030’, thereby increasing the crossover between NATO and EU capability development. The Government must ensure that it plays a leading role and expends every effort to hold the NATO Alliance together. (Recommendation, Paragraph 15)
Government Response Summary
The government is considering where to prioritise investment, including UK involvement in EU capability development programmes and areas of US reliance, with details to be in the forthcoming Defence Investment Plan. It also highlights an appointed interoperability champion, UK Carrier Strike Group under NATO command, and UK industry access to EU defence initiatives.
Government Response
Acknowledged
HM Government
Acknowledged
NATO unity remains critical to our collective security. With our ‘NATO First’ approach, we have placed collective defence through NATO at the heart of our force design and capability planning. We are considering where to prioritise investment to meet our responsibilities to the Alliance, including UK involvement in EU capability development programmes and areas where NATO is most reliant on US capabilities. Choices regarding these priorities will be detailed in the forthcoming Defence Investment Plan (DIP). Within the Military Strategic Headquarters, the Chief of Defence Staff has appointed an interoperability champion to support NATO and deliver the SDR’s recommendation to establish and implement the UK’s own NATO Interoperability Roadmap. We have already seen tangible progress in this area; for example, the UK’s Carrier Strike Group was recently placed under NATO command, integrated into both Alliance operational and tactical command and control systems. The UK welcomes the EU’s efforts to enhance its role in defence, including through its Defence Readiness 2030 roadmap. It is crucial that these initiatives are designed to complement NATO’s role. While negotiations have not led to the UK’s full participation in Security Action for Europe (SAFE), the UK’s defence industry continues to have access to SAFE under standard third-country terms, in which UK companies will be able to participate in SAFE contracts to provide up to 35% of their content. cooperation with the EU as we jointly implement the Security and Defence Partnership. More broadly, we are actively partnering with European nations to leverage the strengths of British industry in delivering European security. Since the election, we have secured major agreements with Norway, Türkiye, Germany, and France.