Commons Sense

House of Commons · Ministers' Questions

NATO: European Security

Monday 19 May 2025 · 2 questions

Summarised by AI from the official record, so it can contain mistakes.

Read the full transcript on Parliament.uk

At a glance

Answered 2 Partly answered 0 Not answered 0

Key points

  • NATO is considered vital for Britain's defence and security in the face of global instability.
  • The UK Government reaffirms its unshakeable commitment to NATO, contrary to suggestions from some Green party politicians.
  • The UK is co-leading the drone capability coalition with Latvia, improving defence technology in response to innovations seen in Ukraine.

Topics (select to filter)

Questions & Answers

Q1 Uma Kumaran Lab Stratford and Bow
Defence Foreign Affairs
Context

The question arises from the context of global instability, with some Green party politicians suggesting that the UK leave NATO. The Labour Government is being asked to recommit to working closely with NATO allies for collective defence.

Question

NATO has never been more vital for Britain’s defence and security than in this era of global instability and volatility. I was therefore alarmed that certain Green party politicians have suggested that the UK leave NATO, abandoning our commitment to our allies, including other European nations, and the defence of Ukraine and of our shared democratic values. Will the Minister reassure this House that this Labour Government will recommit to working even more closely with our allies for our collective defence, and will he confirm that unlike certain other parties, Labour will always put the security of our citizens first?

Answer from The Minister for the Armed Forces (Luke Pollard)

Let me be absolutely clear with the House: NATO is the cornerstone of our security, and this Government’s commitment to the alliance is unshakeable. The Greens, if that is the case, would be out of step with the British people, who recognise the importance of NATO membership. We should also be clear that the only person who would benefit from taking apart the NATO alliance sits in the Kremlin: President Putin. That is a victory we will not give him.

Answered
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Q2 Andrew Lewin Lab Welwyn Hatfield
Ukraine Defence
Context

Ukraine has become a world leader in strategic and tactical drones due to its innovative response to Putin’s invasion. The UK is being asked about its role in supporting Ukraine’s military through investments and learning from their technological advancements.

Question

The Ukrainian military’s response to Putin’s invasion has been formidable. One of the ways it has been so impressive is through its innovation in drone technology, with Ukraine now a world leader in strategic and tactical drones. Does the Minister agree that it is important that the UK, along with our NATO allies, continues to invest in the Ukrainian military, so that it can continue its fight for freedom and so that we can benefit from the advances in technology that the Ukrainian military has brought forward?

Answer from The Minister for the Armed Forces (Luke Pollard)

I absolutely agree. The UK is co-leading the drone capability coalition with Latvia, and we are improving and learning from the experiences of our friends in Ukraine. Drone technology in Ukraine iterates every two to three weeks, so it is absolutely vital not only that we create the environment for new investments in drone technology, but that the UK military looks at those lessons learned. I would expect a large part of the strategic defence review to be looking at the lessons that we can learn from Ukraine and applying them to our own military.

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