Select committee: Defence Committee
Recommendation 3
6th Report - The UK contribution to European Security
Published 19 Nov 2025
Addressed to Ministry of Defence
Defence Committee The UK contribution to European Security All items in this report Report on parliament.uk ↗ Inquiry on parliament.uk ↗
Recommendation (the committee's words)
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 The Government should assess where the UK can lead in terms of replacing US capabilities in the event of them being withdrawn and establishing how it can best support EU capability development programmes, particularly those referenced in ‘ReArm Europe Plan/Readiness 2030’, thereby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)
From: Defence Committee, 6th Report - The UK contribution to European Security (HC 520), 19 November 2025
Government response
The government responded to the whole report on 30 January 2026 (deadline 19 January 2026).
Summary written by Accountability Index from the government's response. It is not the government's own words.The Government's response to the Defence Committee's report on the UK contribution to European security outlines its approach under a 'NATO First' strategy, setting out many ongoing measures and deferring several decisions to the forthcoming Defence Investment Plan.
- On capability priorities, it says it is "considering where to prioritise investment", including UK involvement in EU capability development programmes, and that choices "will be detailed in the forthcoming Defence Investment Plan".
- On a second sovereign nuclear delivery method, it states that a submarine-based system "remains the most effective and proportionate means" of delivering the deterrent, and that F-35A aircraft will "complement, rather than replace" it.
- On a Minister of Homeland Security, it says it "continues to judge" that the Chief Secretary to the Prime Minister and the Security Minister "remain suitable leads".
- On Defence Readiness legislation, it is reviewing which powers may be needed and will engage stakeholders "during 2026", but says it does "not yet have a specific timetable" for the legislation.