Commons Sense

House of Commons · Westminster Hall

NATO Summit: Vilnius

06 July 2023 · 6 other contributors · 10,868 words

Opened by Alec Shelbrooke Con Wetherby and Easingwold

Responding minister: Andrew Mitchell

UkraineDefenceForeign Affairs

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

Read the full transcript on Parliament.uk

At a glance

Alec Shelbrooke raised concerns about nato summit: vilnius in Westminster Hall. A government minister responded.

Key points

  • Mr Shelbrooke highlighted the importance of the NATO Parliamentary Assembly in strategic discussions across allied nations.
  • He expressed concerns about Baltic security, the effectiveness of Article 5, and the impact of climate change on military infrastructure.
  • Mr Shelbrooke urged for continued investment in defence procurement and the renewal of nuclear deterrent capabilities.

Key requests to Government

Mr. Shelbrooke urged for continued investment in defence procurement to maintain a constant supply line and industry confidence, as well as highlighting the need for NATO allies to renew their nuclear deterrent capabilities such as Trident and Dreadnought fleet to ensure effective counterbalance against potential threats from Russia.

How the debate unfolded

MPs spoke in turn to share their views and ask questions. Here's what each person said.

Opened the debate

Alec Shelbrooke Con Wetherby and Easingwold

Mr. Shelbrooke highlighted the importance of the NATO Parliamentary Assembly as a cross-party political body that contributes to strategic discussions on defence, politics, science, technology, economics, and security across allied nations. He mentioned concerns about the rapid evolution of Baltic security following Russia's invasion of Ukraine, the effectiveness of Article 5 in emergency situations, and the challenges posed by climate change impacting military infrastructure in Canada's High North region.

Other contributors (6)
  • Jason McCartney Con Camberwell and Peckham

    Mr McCartney, a Royal Air Force veteran, highlighted the critical role of NATO in building multilateral relations across Europe. He praised the UK's commitment to meeting the 2% defence spending target and contributing advanced military equipment such as aircraft carriers. He also emphasised the importance of defending democratic values against disinformation campaigns from countries like Russia, Iran, and China.

  • John Spellar Lab Warley

    Stressed the political nature of NATO, highlighting the role of Parliaments in engaging with industrial capacity and supply diversification. Emphasised the importance of working with allies such as the US and EU to rebuild industrial capacities. The Front-Bench spokesman, my hon. Friend the Member for Cardiff South and Penarth (Stephen Doughty), asked about AI, and I raised the question of information warfare, which is about not just technology but generating the message and understanding the environment in which that is done.

  • Kevan Jones

    The Member praised NATO's role in defending democracy and outlined its importance today. He highlighted new challenges such as cyber threats and disinformation and emphasised the need for increased integration between NATO, the EU, and partner nations to support Ukraine.

  • Martin Docherty SNP West Dunbartonshire

    Discussed the importance of NATO and its commitment to Ukraine, highlighting the need for a move towards a NATO membership action plan for Ukraine. Emphasized the role of multilateral institutions in strengthening alliances and the significance of consensus decision-making within NATO.

  • Stephen Doughty Lab Co-op Cardiff South and Penarth

    Emphasised Labour's commitment to NATO, its founding principles, and the importance of transatlantic relations. He also questioned the Minister on UK troop contributions to the high readiness force, Sweden's membership status, and delays in releasing defence plans. I was glad to hear the Minister mention cyber and other related capabilities. We obviously have leading capability in that area and work closely with our allies. Will he be able to say a little about what we will do with our allies on artificial intelligence, in terms of both the potential benefits and our resilience and defence? If he cannot say anything today, perhaps he could write to us.

  • Valerie Vaz Lab Walsall and Bloxwich

    Acknowledged the leadership role in NATO Parliamentary Assembly by UK members, highlighting their soft power influence. The Minister has been an excellent exponent of soft power during his ministerial career. Does he agree that it is good news that the Secretary-General of NATO has had his mandate extended for a further year?

Government Response

Andrew Mitchell

Acknowledged contributions from Members and expressed gratitude for their efforts to strengthen NATO. Emphasized that the upcoming Vilnius summit will bolster support for Ukraine, enhance war-fighting plans, and improve interoperability among allies. Highlighted Britain's commitment to a seamless transfer of chairmanships within NATO committees. Noted the designation of the Wagner Group under sanctions and mentioned Britain's role in enhancing NATO's capabilities through increased military readiness, pre-positioning equipment, and upgrading systems.

Get updates like this by email
▸ Assessment & feedback
Summary accuracy