This Labor government will have a ‘NATO first’ defense strategy

Seventy-five years ago, the British Foreign Secretary Ernest Bevin had the vision and determination to bring together 12 nations from Western Europe and North America to create the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (Nato).

Today, the NATO alliance encompasses 32 nations. Thirty-two allies committed to the fundamental principle that an attack on anyone is an attack on us all.

This, as Bevin said, “places us under a broader roof of security, a roof that extends over the Atlantic Ocean and gives us the assurance of a great preponderance of power, which will be used on the side of peace.” [and] security”.

This week, we travel with the Prime Minister to Washington DC, joining our allies to mark this 75th anniversary. And we find ourselves in a time of unprecedented volatility and insecurity. The entire alliance faces increasing global threats – both conventional and hybrid. With authoritarianism and greater geopolitical competition, on the one hand, and rapid technological development, on the other.

The first duty of any government is to keep the country safe and protect its citizens. We cannot have stability and prosperity without security. NATO is, therefore, the ultimate guarantor of the ability of all allies to live freely and build a secure and more prosperous future for their people.

Our Government’s commitment to NATO is, therefore, unshakable. We will have a “NATO first” defense strategy. European security will be our external and defense priority. Our commitment to Britain’s nuclear deterrence is absolute.

We will increase spending to 2.5 percent of GDP on defense as quickly as possible, whilst advocating that all NATO allies should adopt this as a new defense target. And we will launch a Strategic Defense Review, so that we are fighting fit to defend ourselves against any adversary.

Chief among these adversaries is Russia. We must strengthen our defenses to deter put on effectively. And we must reinvigorate our support for the courageous people of Ukraine as they defend their freedom against Vladimir Putin’s new form of fascism.

Before the general elections, we both traveled to Kiev and personally assured Ukrainians of our firm commitment.

But Britain is always stronger when we work with others. That’s why we want to redefine our relations with Europe. As war returns to our continent and security threats increase, Britain must also restore confidence in our partnership with our closest neighbours. This includes new security and defense agreements with close allies and partners in Europe, such as Germany.

We underlined this commitment just days after being appointed by our new Prime Minister Keir Starmerwith John traveling to Ukraine and David visiting Germany, Poland and Sweden.

During these visits, our new Government greater support for Ukraineincluding new military support – a clear sign of our determination to outlast the Kremlin.

UK-EU Security Pact

And we have started discussions about how we can do more with European partners. Bilaterally, we will leverage our closely interconnected defense industries to strengthen our defenses and support Ukraine. And our plan for an ambitious and comprehensive UK-EU Security Pact would support closer cooperation between us, enshrining a new geopolitical partnership that complements the wider NATO alliance.

As we, together with Keir Starmer, seek to reconnect Britain on the world stage, we will be fully committed to strengthening other alliances that reinforce British security in this increasingly insecure world. We will guarantee AUKUSthe trilateral security partnership with Australia and the United States fully realizes its potential.

As negotiations over NATO concluded, Bevin predicted that “the step now being taken will bring peace and security… for many generations to come.” How right he was. His vision became the most successful peacetime military alliance in the world.

Our generation faces an increasingly bleak global scenario. Those who believe in freedom and international law must stand together, stand up for what is right – just as Bevin did 75 years ago.

This requires a strong and reconnected Britain. Under our Government, Britain will be confident in our purpose, have a clear vision of the challenges and will be determined to invest in our collective strength. A formidable and reliable ally and partner. A country building the foundations of an era of renewal. Bevin’s spirit will live on in this new administration.

David Lammy is the Foreign Secretary

John Healey is the Secretary of Defense