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NATO Accession: Sweden and Finland
06 July 2022
Lead MP
Vicky Ford
Debate Type
Ministerial Statement
Tags
UkraineDefenceEconomy
Other Contributors: 22
At a Glance
Vicky Ford raised concerns about nato accession: sweden and finland in the House of Commons. A government minister responded. Other MPs also contributed.
How the Debate Unfolded
MPs spoke in turn to share their views and ask questions. Here's what each person said:
Government Statement
With permission, Mr Speaker, Vicky Ford announced the UK’s support for Sweden and Finland joining NATO. She highlighted that both countries have submitted their formal applications to join and accession talks have been completed swiftly within 50 days. The minister emphasised the significance of this move as it reflects the security threat Russia poses to these traditionally neutral nations. She outlined the importance of integrating them into NATO rapidly, especially considering Russia's aggressive rhetoric against them. Vicky Ford mentioned that the UK played a pivotal role in securing agreement among all NATO allies and has provided bilateral security guarantees to both countries. The minister called for swift parliamentary ratification without the usual 21-day requirement under section 22 of the Constitutional Reform and Governance Act 2010, aiming to complete it before the summer recess. She also highlighted the UK’s commitment to increase defence spending to at least 2.5% of GDP by the end of the decade, reflecting a strengthening NATO in response to new security challenges.
Rachael Maskell
Lab
Redcar
Question
The MP questioned how the UK can balance supporting Sweden and Finland's accession while also engaging with Russia to de-escalate the situation. She expressed concern about the potential for a wider conflict if NATO expansion is not managed carefully.
Minister reply
Vicky Ford acknowledged the complexity of balancing support for NATO expansion with engagement with Russia. She emphasised that the UK and NATO are committed to strengthening security in response to Russian aggression, but also stressed the importance of maintaining dialogue channels to de-escalate tensions.
Stephen Kinnock
Lab
Blaenau Gwent
Question
The MP asked about the economic and military support provided by NATO allies in response to Finland and Sweden’s accession, particularly from countries like Germany. He questioned if the UK was contributing sufficiently.
Minister reply
Vicky Ford responded that while the exact figures vary among member states, the UK has committed a significant amount of financial aid and military equipment to Ukraine, demonstrating its commitment to NATO's strategic defence goals.
Liam Byrne
Lab
Hartlepool
Question
The MP inquired about the potential impact on British industry from increased defence spending and whether the UK had a plan for ensuring economic benefits beyond just military expenditure.
Minister reply
Vicky Ford stated that the UK government recognises the importance of supporting domestic industries through procurement policies, aiming to create economic opportunities while enhancing national security.
David Lammy
Lab
Tottenham
Question
The accession of Finland and Sweden is welcomed by the Labour party as it strengthens NATO. The shadow Foreign Secretary highlighted the need for deeper security cooperation with European allies and urged the Government to halt defence cuts.
Minister reply
The Minister thanked the shadow Foreign Secretary, highlighting that the House stands united in supporting Ukraine and new allies Finland and Sweden. She reminded the House of the UK’s commitment to spending 2.5% of GDP on defence by the end of this decade.
Thomas Tugendhat
Con
Tonbridge
Question
The hon. Member paid tribute to his friend for announcing the accession and emphasised that NATO is fundamentally about defending the realm, especially focusing on the high north and Scottish coasts.
Minister reply
The Minister welcomed her colleague's support and expressed willingness to engage in deeper conversations with Finnish and Swedish partners regarding interoperability.
Question
The SNP agrees with the UK Government on welcoming Finland and Sweden’s applications for NATO membership. The Member also stressed the importance of a comprehensive UK-EU strategic defence treaty.
Minister reply
While supporting the fast-track process, the Minister questioned how the Scottish nationalists could support NATO while opposing the nuclear deterrent.
Alec Shelbrooke
Con
Wetherby and Easingwold
Question
The hon. Member highlighted cyber-defence as a critical issue for Finland and Sweden’s accession, noting that it is difficult to identify where cyber-attacks come from.
Minister reply
Acknowledging the importance of cyber-defence, the Minister emphasised the need for faster approval processes to enable these countries to join NATO quickly.
Chris Bryant
Lab
Rhondda and Ogmore
Question
The hon. Member supported Sweden and Finland’s accession but raised concerns about 34 different shapes and sizes of lethal equipment provided by various European countries to Ukraine.
Minister reply
The Minister highlighted the UK's central role in providing military assistance, including over £1 billion worth of military support announced last week. She also noted that over 22,000 Ukrainian troops have been trained in the past decade.
Andrew Murrison
Con
South West Wiltshire
Question
I draw attention to my entry in the register. I very much welcome this statement. Does the Minister recognise that notwithstanding Sweden and Finland’s non-aligned status, since 1997 they, along with Austria, have been active participants in NATO’s Partnership for Peace? Will she pay tribute to that programme and say which other members of Partnership for Peace she anticipates making similar overtures in the near future?
Minister reply
As I said in my opening remarks, Finland and Sweden have been working very closely with NATO for a considerable period. On other partners, every country has its own path towards NATO membership, and no third party has a say in that process. Ukraine, among other countries, is currently an enhanced opportunity partner, and NATO remains firmly committed to the open-door policy. I cannot be more specific at this point.
Jamie Stone
Lib Dem
Caithness, Sutherland and Easter Ross
Question
My constituents know all about NATO, for two reasons: first, because the regular Exercise Joint Warrior is partly carried out in the north-west of Sutherland; and secondly, because Russian naval units are not terribly far over the horizon from my northernmost-on-the-British-mainland constituency. Therefore, on behalf of my party, I absolutely welcome the accession of Sweden and Finland. My party is internationalist in outlook, so does the Minister agree that co-operation with not only NATO but other organisations—the World Trade Organisation, the EU or whatever—can only enhance this country’s hand and position in the world?
Minister reply
I know the hon. Gentleman’s constituency well. I have had the opportunity of standing in some of the beautiful parts of it and seeing overhead some of the actions of our own forces, and I understand how close his constituents sometimes feel to our allies just the other side of the North sea, as well as their concerns. I welcome the fact that he and his party stand with us on supporting the succession process. We have been working very closely with many international partners on support for Ukraine and standing up against Russian aggression. Indeed, only yesterday I was in the European Parliament meeting some of my former colleagues from many countries, many of whom praised our Prime Minister for the leadership he has taken globally on the issue of Russia and Ukraine. We must prioritise NATO as an important contributor to our defence and our strategic defence, and that is the topic that we are discussing today—but yes, we talk to other organisations as well.
Question
Will the Minister recognise with me the work of the UK delegation to the Council of Europe for the lobbying that we have undertaken of the Turkish delegation to get Turkey to change its mind over the admission of Sweden and Finland to NATO?
Minister reply
I thank my hon. Friend for his work leading Parliament’s delegation to the Council of Europe, which I heard being praised yesterday when I was in Strasbourg. We welcome the fact that agreement was reached by all members of NATO. The alliance’s strength is that it requires consensus. The end result—Finland and Sweden joining the alliance—is something to celebrate, and we encourage all members to ratify as quickly as possible.
Derek Twigg
Lab
Widnes and Halewood
Question
The statement is almost low-key given this extraordinary moment in NATO history, especially for Finland and Sweden, whose accession I of course support. We should not underestimate this massive change in policy. The world, not just Europe, faces an extraordinary threat from what Russia is doing, not just in Ukraine but elsewhere. Aligned with that, the Government must take a decision to increase defence spending, capability and personnel numbers in the armed forces—I suggest that the Minister looks at the Defence Secretary’s comments in reply to my questions in yesterday’s Select Committee meeting—quickly in response to the threat that we now face
Minister reply
The hon. Member is absolutely right that, after many decades of Finland and Sweden standing as neutral countries, this is an extraordinary moment. They have joined NATO because it is their future and they have chosen to. Indeed, they have gone through a very significant democratic process in order to make that decision. Fundamentally, they are coming together because the world is united in condemnation of Russia’s brutal attack, so we must absolutely stand with them. I refer the hon. Member to what I said about the Government’s commitment to increasing spend to 2.5% by the end of the decade. As a member of the Defence Committee, he will have many an occasion to discuss this more specifically with colleagues from the Ministry of Defence.
Question
I also welcome Sweden’s and Finland’s membership of NATO, which will boost European security. Does the Minister agree that it sends a clear message to aggressors such as Putin that any invasion of other countries will only strengthen international opposition to them?
Minister reply
My hon. Friend is spot on. NATO membership is key in promoting the rule of law. It is the most successful defensive alliance in history, and bringing Finland and Sweden into the NATO family will make it even stronger. That is exactly the opposite of what Russia thought it would achieve, but it is what is being achieved. This is a positive force for good for the world.
Nick Smith
Lab
Blaenau Gwent and Rhymney
Question
I thank the Minister for her statement: it is great that Sweden and Finland will be joining NATO. However, will her Government halt their cuts to our Army? We now have the smallest British Army for 300 years. We need to increase the size of our armed forces, not make the cut of 10,000 troops that the Government are still pushing through.
Minister reply
I refer again to what I said about being on track to spend 2.5% of GDP by the end of the decade. The hon. Member will have to discuss the details with the Defence Secretary and his team. It is important to remember, however, that we also need to invest for the long term in vital capabilities such as future combat air and AUKUS, as well as adapting to a more dangerous and competitive world. We need to be able to have these forward-looking alternatives as well.
Andrew Bowie
Con
West Aberdeenshire and Kincardine
Question
I declare an interest, not only as the chairman of the British-Swedish all-party parliamentary group, but as someone who has been an active proponent of closer British-Swedish relations for some time. We have rightly praised the hard work that my right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary has done to expedite the accession of Sweden and Finland, but I also pay tribute to the Swedish Prime Minister, Magdalena Andersson, who has done incredible work within Sweden to change, in a few short months, its official posture—held for more than 200 years—of non-military alignment, and to gain support within her party, Parliament and the Swedish population. Does my hon. Friend agree that she deserves a lot of credit for what she has been able to do?
Minister reply
My hon. Friend is absolutely right. I praise not only the Swedish leadership but that of Finland. I know that he pays close attention to the affairs of Sweden, a country for which he has strong personal affection, and I know that as a former serving member of the Royal Navy, he pays close attention to what happens on our seas and therefore across our North sea.
Jeremy Corbyn
Ind
Islington North
Question
I thank the Minister for her statement. Like many others, I absolutely condemn the Russian invasion of Ukraine. What steps are being taken to engage an interlocutor, through the United Nations or some other world body, to try to bring about a ceasefire so that lives may be saved, both of the people in Ukraine and conscripted Russian soldiers, and at least a cessation of fighting in the war before some ultimate political settlement? All wars end with a political settlement. The killing is appalling and refugee flows are terrible. Surely we must talk the language of peace, as well as the language she has put forward this morning.
Minister reply
Russia started this illegal war. Ever since it started, we have continually—day in, day out—asked Russia to lay down its weapons and stop this illegal, brutal and horrible war. Russia must lay down its weapons, and we will continue to call, with our allies and friends around the world, for that ceasefire that everybody so much wants.
Question
Although not in the circumstances that any of us would have wanted, the accession of Sweden and Finland to NATO is, as the hon. Member for Halton (Derek Twigg) rightly said, a hugely significant event in the development of our own security and that of our friends and neighbours. As we go through the ratification process, speed will be of the essence for the other 29 countries also going through that process. Can my hon. Friend the Minister say any more about how long the overall process will take? In the meantime, will there be parallel planning to ensure that once Finland and Sweden come into NATO, we are up and running around the interoperability and integration of those nations into the alliance, so that they can benefit as much from it as possible, and we from them?
Minister reply
NATO remains firmly committed to the open door policy, but bringing another country into NATO requires all 30 members—now more—to agree, because it works by consensus. On increasing NATO capabilities, we are significantly increasing the availability of UK forces to NATO, which will include the majority of our maritime forces, extra air squadrons and increasing the number of land brigade-sized units.
Dave Doogan
SNP
Angus and Perthshire Glens
Question
I do not often agree with the Minister, and that will not be a surprise, but my goodness, I agree with her today, wholeheartedly. Our support for the accession of Sweden and Finland to NATO is unqualified, and why would it not be, given their adherence to and prioritising of liberty, human rights, democracy and the rule of law, as the Minister said? Interestingly, they are also non-nuclear armed, and they will be non-nuclear hosting. They have a proud martial tradition going back many hundreds of years, which is integral to their society, and they have a diverse and extensive military industrial complex employing thousands and generating billions, alongside outstanding capability. That could also 100% describe Scotland, so with independence, what is to stop Scotland joining NATO also?
Minister reply
I believe, and this Government believe, that our country’s defence is stronger when we are united as one nation. I also believe that core to our defence is our nuclear deterrent.
Bridgend
Question
I agree with the statement that the Minister has made. It is vital that Ukraine wins this war, both militarily and domestically, and that the alliance is strengthened, and I am pleased to see Finland and Sweden joining. I am, however, concerned about reports of the Kurds being used as a bargaining chip in the negotiations. We have abandoned the Kurds far too many times in history. Can the Minister offer reassurances that we will continue to support the YPG and the YPJ in north-east Syria, where they have defeated ISIS, that we will not buckle under the demands to treat them as a terrorist organisation—they are its opposite, an anti-terrorist organisation—and that we will continue to push the Turkish Government, as a NATO member, to pursue democratic reforms rather than democratic persecution?
Minister reply
We welcome the agreements made at the Madrid summit last week. These brought together all members, by consensus, to agree to Norway and Sweden joining. That involves discussions with every single one of NATO’s members.
Matt Western
Lab
Warwick and Leamington
Question
We all cannot overstate the significance or momentousness of this announcement. Many of us will have lived through the many decades of the cold war and will appreciate that for Sweden and Finland to be making this decision now underlines the seriousness of the situation. I welcome the announcement from NATO to increase its high-readiness force from 40,000 to 300,000, but I have concerns, as mentioned by my hon. Friends the Members for Halton (Derek Twigg) and for Blaenau Gwent (Nick Smith), that by reducing our Army’s personnel by 10,000, we are reducing it to a smaller capacity than the US Marine Corps. Will she agree with Labour that we must halt those cuts immediately?
Minister reply
I welcome the hon. Gentleman’s support for what has been agreed at the Madrid summit. It was a truly historic summit. It not only made huge progress in bringing Finland and Sweden into joining NATO, but agreed a new strategic concept and a paradigm shift in the security environment, and allies significantly strengthened NATO’s deterrence and defence. As I have already pointed out, the UK is making significant contributions to enhance our contribution to NATO.
Jim Shannon
DUP
Strangford
Question
I thank the Minister very much for the statement. Recent news that the 30 member countries of NATO have signed accession protocols for Sweden and Finland to join have been welcomed, and that news makes the world a safer place today. They also have greater access to intelligence in relation to Russia and the aggression that it espouses. Will the Minister ensure that we continue to have a clear commitment to protect Sweden and Finland in the short term, as well as the long term, against the aggressive intrusion of Putin and the Russian Government?
Minister reply
I completely agree with the hon. Member that Finland and Sweden joining NATO makes the world a safer place for the people of the United Kingdom, for all our NATO allies and for all those who are concerned about Russian aggression and what Ukraine means for the potential future of their country. That is why we will continue to stand with like-minded partners across the world to defend democracy and freedom, and that is why the House is united in ensuring that the ratification of the accession passes as swiftly as possible through the fast-track procedure at this truly exceptional time. We stand united with all those parties who agree to it.
Shadow Comment
David Lammy
Shadow Comment
David Lammy welcomed Finland and Sweden's accession to NATO as an historic decision that aligns with Labour’s commitment to NATO. He highlighted the careful democratic approach taken by both countries towards rethinking their non-aligned status due to Russia's invasion of Ukraine, which has inadvertently strengthened NATO unity instead of weakening it. The shadow minister praised the Swedish and Finnish Foreign Ministers for stewarding this process and emphasised the importance of deepening security cooperation with European allies and the EU alongside NATO. Lammy noted that while Finland, Sweden, and other allies are reassessing their defence planning in light of new threats, the UK has not done so adequately since 9/11. He recognised the need for swift ratification given the exceptional circumstances but emphasised the importance of parliamentary scrutiny under normal conditions.
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