US, UK and NATO

Defence Committee Closed Inquiry
Opened: 22 Jul 2021 Closed: 11 Dec 2023 Parliament page
Following the publication of the UK Integrated Review (and the accompanying Defence strategies), the commitments made at the NATO summit of June 2021 and the announcement by the US Administration that it will publish a Global Posture Review this year, we have undertaken to hold an inquiry which examines how … Read more
5 Recommendations
13 Conclusions
1 Report
4 Oral sessions
3 Letters
4 Events
Activity timeline 13 events
11 Jul
2023
Correspondence
11 Jul
2023
Correspondence
22 Jun
2023
Report published
22 Jun
2023
Correspondence
7 Mar
2023
Report published
2 Nov
2022
Oral evidence
2 Nov
2022
Formal meeting (oral evidence session) · The Grimond Room, Portcullis House
24 May
2022
Oral evidence
24 May
2022
Formal meeting (oral evidence session) · The Grimond Room, Portcullis House
15 Mar
2022
Oral evidence
15 Mar
2022
Formal meeting (oral evidence session) · Room 8, Palace of Westminster
1 Mar
2022
Oral evidence
Oral evidence sessions 4 sessions
2 Nov 2022
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Clare Cameron · Ministry of Defence Major General David Eastman · Ministry of Defence Rt Hon Ben Wallace MP · Ministry of Defence
24 May 2022
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Sir James Everard KCB CBE, former NATO Deputy Supreme Allied Commander Europe (DSACEUR)
15 Mar 2022
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Lord Robertson, former Secretary General of NATO
1 Mar 2022
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Panel 1
Dr Jamie Shea · Centre for War Studies, University of Southern Denmark James J. Townsend Jr. · Center for a New American Security (CNAS)
Title HC No. Published Items Response
Sixth Report - Special Relationships? US, UK and NATO HC 184 7 Mar 2023 18 Responded
Recommendations & Conclusions
18 results
1 Conclusion Acknowledged
Sixth Report - Special Relationshi…
It is a testament to the depth of the defence, security and intelligence relationship between...
It is a testament to the depth of the defence, security and intelligence relationship between the UK and the US that changes in direction and political leadership in both countries have not undermined the relationship. However, that depth requires regular … Read more
Government Response
The Department welcomes the report’s recognition of the depth and breadth of the UK/ US relationship, stating that the US remains the UK’s most important ally and partner.
Ministry of Defence
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2 Conclusion Acknowledged
Sixth Report - Special Relationshi…
The UK benefits from the UK-US relationship through its access to US military thinking, equipment...
The UK benefits from the UK-US relationship through its access to US military thinking, equipment and research as well as the opportunity to train and deploy alongside US counterparts. The UK-US relationship enhances the UK’s security.
Government Response
The government agrees that the UK derives great value from the US relationship, especially regarding technology, training, and nuclear deterrence, and mentions AUKUS as a platform for further collaboration.
Ministry of Defence
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3 Conclusion Acknowledged
Sixth Report - Special Relationshi…
It is also important to recognise that the US also benefits from the relationship, through...
It is also important to recognise that the US also benefits from the relationship, through the UK’s expertise in niche capabilities, as well as through the leadership role that the UK plays in NATO. Furthermore, the role the UK has … Read more
Government Response
The government acknowledges the US values the UK's contribution to international leadership and highlights UK-US cooperation on Ukraine in facilitating military aid.
Ministry of Defence
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4 Conclusion Accepted
Sixth Report - Special Relationshi…
The UK clearly has some difficult decisions to make about investments in the modernisation of...
The UK clearly has some difficult decisions to make about investments in the modernisation of capabilities as a result of current levels of inflation and unfavourable foreign exchange rates. Whilst it is vital to maintain some sort of technology sharing … Read more
Government Response
The government states that the UK values its capability partnership with the US highly but also continues to pursue capability programmes with different partners and allies across the globe, and that working alongside and being interoperable with our allies and partners, especially NATO, remains an essential element of delivering Defence outcomes and of our capability development.
Ministry of Defence
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5 Recommendation Accepted
Sixth Report - Special Relationshi…
The UK should explore the value of linking contracts to increase UK exports to the...
The UK should explore the value of linking contracts to increase UK exports to the US and lobby the US Administration to reduce the regulatory burdens placed on UK defence companies.
Government Response
The UK works closely with the US to support UK industry and its interests in global and US markets and is working with the US Administration and Congress to pursue reforms or exemptions for the UK and Australia in areas such as International Traffic in Arms Regulations (ITAR).
Ministry of Defence
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6 Conclusion Acknowledged
Sixth Report - Special Relationshi…
The outcome of the Doha Agreement was the return of the Taliban to power in...
The outcome of the Doha Agreement was the return of the Taliban to power in a country where the UK lost 457 service personnel and the MOD assessed that it had spent £27.7 billion on Operations Herrick and TORAL. We … Read more
Government Response
The government acknowledges that US negotiations were bilateral, and the UK's influence was limited, despite efforts to maintain a strategic direction and broker peace; the UK also requested an extension to the withdrawal date which was rejected.
Ministry of Defence
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7 Conclusion Acknowledged
Sixth Report - Special Relationshi…
The US have engaged widely with allies and partners on Ukraine.
The US have engaged widely with allies and partners on Ukraine. Although this did not deter President Putin from his course of action, it helped to build a unified response. The US is to be commended for its approach in … Read more
Government Response
The government acknowledges the US and UK coordinated the release of sensitive information to expose Russian attempts to fabricate a pretext for invasion and will continue to expose Russia's playbook.
Ministry of Defence
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8 Conclusion Acknowledged
Sixth Report - Special Relationshi…
We welcome the US public commitment to greater engagement with partners and allies.
We welcome the US public commitment to greater engagement with partners and allies. However, the UK Government needs to encourage the US to engage at the planning stage for any operations that could have an impact on the UK or … Read more
Government Response
The government agrees on the need for closer engagement with allies and welcomes US efforts, citing strategic dialogues and military engagement related to Ukraine as examples of ongoing collaboration.
Ministry of Defence
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9 Conclusion Accepted
Sixth Report - Special Relationshi…
The UK makes an impressive contribution to NATO.
The UK makes an impressive contribution to NATO. We welcome the decision within the Integrated Review of 2021 to ensure that the UK maintained its prominent role in NATO. However, we are concerned that if the Government fails to protect … Read more
Government Response
The Department highlights that the UK will continue to spend a minimum of 2% of GDP on defence and is set to spend more than 2% this financial year, that the Prime Minister has provided Defence additional support in the Spring Budget of £5 billion over the next 2 years, and that the UK doubled the number of UK troops in Estonia as a temporary measure.
Ministry of Defence
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10 Recommendation Acknowledged
Sixth Report - Special Relationshi…
The Joint Expeditionary Force has proven itself to be effective, acting as a force multiplier...
The Joint Expeditionary Force has proven itself to be effective, acting as a force multiplier for both its constituent countries and NATO. We have heard that the UK should focus its efforts within NATO on the High North. Given that … Read more
Government Response
The government acknowledges the JEF's effectiveness and states that it will complement NATO and national response capabilities by aligning JEF activity with NATO’s Regional Plans, homeland defence plans and peacetime vigilance activity.
Ministry of Defence
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11 Recommendation Acknowledged
Sixth Report - Special Relationshi…
We welcome the likely accession of Finland and Sweden to NATO.
We welcome the likely accession of Finland and Sweden to NATO. We recommend that the Government continue to engage with interlocuters in both Hungary and Türkiye to lobby for ratification in the near future.
Government Response
The Government welcomes Finland joining NATO and reiterates its commitment to Sweden's accession, stating it will continue to encourage Turkey and Hungary to ratify Sweden's membership.
Ministry of Defence
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12 Conclusion Acknowledged
Sixth Report - Special Relationshi…
NATO has been revitalised by the Russian full-scale invasion of Ukraine—there is a unity of...
NATO has been revitalised by the Russian full-scale invasion of Ukraine—there is a unity of purpose and agreement on what the threat posed is. However, it is still in the relatively early stages of its shift to refocusing on the … Read more
Government Response
The government agrees that Russia’s invasion of Ukraine has underlined NATO’s role in deterring threats to Allies, and convening Allies around key issues like support for Ukraine, and highlights steps NATO is taking to address technological challenges.
Ministry of Defence
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13 Conclusion Acknowledged
Sixth Report - Special Relationshi…
We welcome NATO-EU engagement, both on China and defence capabilities, where it is complementary, rather...
We welcome NATO-EU engagement, both on China and defence capabilities, where it is complementary, rather than duplicative. We are also supportive of the UK’s application to join PESCO. (Paragraph 82) Wider issues
Government Response
The government shares the Committee’s view on the benefit of NATO-EU engagement and supports the UK’s application to join the EU’s Permanent Structured Cooperation (PESCO) Military Mobility project.
Ministry of Defence
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14 Conclusion Acknowledged
Sixth Report - Special Relationshi…
It is clear that the UK and its NATO Allies have allowed ammunition stockpiles to...
It is clear that the UK and its NATO Allies have allowed ammunition stockpiles to dwindle to dangerously low levels. Whilst Russia is also facing the diminution of its stockpiles, other adversaries are able to maintain and potentially increase their … Read more
Government Response
The government states that the UK has been leading work in NATO on industrial capacity and stockpile replenishment, aiming for an action plan to strengthen the industrial base and increase standardization.
Ministry of Defence
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15 Conclusion Acknowledged
Sixth Report - Special Relationshi…
Defence industrial capacity needs to be both resilient and scalable.
Defence industrial capacity needs to be both resilient and scalable. In order to secure supply chains the Secretary of State acknowledged that the Government needs to address skills shortages as well as committing to significant orders alongside allies 36 Special … Read more
Government Response
The Department's Munitions Planning Cycle for 2022 was endorsed in April 2023, taking on board both early lessons learned from Ukraine and DSTL analysis; the Autumn Statement provided the Department with £560 million to bolster munitions stockpiles and industrial resilience, and work to industrial capacity and stockpiles is ongoing.
Ministry of Defence
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16 Recommendation Accepted in Part
Sixth Report - Special Relationshi…
It is clear that the manner in which Western Governments procure armaments is not fit...
It is clear that the manner in which Western Governments procure armaments is not fit for purpose. The MOD produced a strategy aimed at improving the way that it engages with industry and allies almost two years ago and yet … Read more
Government Response
The government highlights actions already underway to work with industry to replenish stockpiles, including establishing a replenishment team and placing contracts for various weapon systems, and states that they will outline how they are working more closely with industry in the upcoming Defence Command Paper Refresh, but does not commit to an action plan.
Ministry of Defence
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17 Recommendation Accepted
Sixth Report - Special Relationshi…
We welcome the Government’s acknowledgement that resilience requires investment in increasing the medium and high...
We welcome the Government’s acknowledgement that resilience requires investment in increasing the medium and high skills base. We recommend that the MOD enter into a joint programme of work with other relevant Government Departments to identify and remove barriers which … Read more
Government Response
The Department is working with industry to nurture and develop relevant skills in the sectors, including through sharing expertise, making it easier for people to move between Government and industry, and greater outreach by defence and security departments to identify and attract potential talent and highlights the Defence Suppliers Forum People and Skills group.
Ministry of Defence
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18 Conclusion Acknowledged
Sixth Report - Special Relationshi…
The events of the past year demonstrate the need for effective deterrence against aggressive actions...
The events of the past year demonstrate the need for effective deterrence against aggressive actions which undermine the rules-based international order. The UK must work within NATO to ensure that there is an agreed approach and unity of action. But … Read more
Government Response
The government concurs with the committee regarding the importance of effective deterrence and highlights NATO's transformation and unity in the face of Russian aggression.
Ministry of Defence
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Government Response AI assessment · 18 of 5 classified
Accepted 4
Accepted in Part 1
Acknowledged 13
Total 5 recs + 13 conclusions
Correspondence 3 letters
11 Jul 2023 Letter dated 10th July from Secretary of State to the Chair regarding the Government Response to the Committee's Report on the US, UK and NATO.
Parliament page
11 Jul 2023 Letter dated 10th July from Secretary of State to the Chair regarding the Government Response to the Committee's Report on the US, UK and NATO
Parliament page
22 Jun 2023 Letter dated 21st June from the Chair to Secretary of State for Defence regarding 3 points raised in the Government Response to the Committees Sixth Report of this Session.
Parliament page