Ukraine and Russia

Debate between Lord Coaker and Lord Peach

Tuesday 15th September 2026 Lords Chamber

[Lord Coaker (Lab)]

It is difficult to argue that completely. If that were the case, why would we be doing what we are doing in Ukraine, under the last Government and this Government? If we did not believe that the freedom of Ukraine was ultimately and intrinsically linked with our own freedom and the freedom of all of Europe, why would we be supporting NATO in all the ways we have, with respect to infringements of airspace and what we do with Poland? Why do we have troops in Estonia? Why are we talking about the possibility of tactical nuclear weapons on F35As? Ultimately, why is it that we spend a quarter of the defence budget on the nuclear deterrent, which is the ultimate guarantor of our freedom, the freedom of Europe and the freedom of the world? Let us remind ourselves that, although the Prime Minister retains the ultimate decision on its use or not, that nuclear guarantee, our nuclear umbrella, is explicitly given to the defence of Europe. There are challenges, but I do not think it is fair to say that this Government are weak when it comes to Russia.

[Lord Peach (CB)]

My Lords, the Minister has been clear, and other Statements have made clear, that the risk from Russia is rising. “Hybrid” is now in common usage, and we see it associated with sabotage attacks across Europe. We need to take that threat seriously. In the spirit of this debate and discussion, we need a stronger narrative on defence and we need to embrace all elements of our society in that narrative. We need to build on the points around readiness in defence, both for regulars and, importantly, for our Reserve Forces. I declare my interest as the president of Reserves for the UK. Our Reserve Forces have never been more important. Through that, we can build stronger resilience. It is resilience that will see us through and has seen us through before. In building resilience, does the Minister agree that it is time to have a bigger conversation and strengthen the whole narrative around defence and security?

[Lord Coaker (Lab)]

I do absolutely agree with that. Certainly, the Government are looking at accelerating the progress—or not—that they are making on a national conversation. The noble and gallant Lord is absolutely right when he talks about resilience and the need to have a whole-of-society approach. I could not agree more, and the Government are certainly working to deliver that. The important thing is that we need to get through to people, which is why I mentioned the 90,000 cyber attacks, is that we may not have Russian paratroopers landing in the middle of Nottingham, but cyber attacks are happening now. We have seen activity on our own soil, in Salisbury and elsewhere. We have seen the way in which global conflict impacts on domestic fuel prices. We need to explain these things much more fully.

On the reserves, I could not agree more. Their importance is essential, which is why I was so proud and pleased on Saturday morning to go to the Prince William Barracks in Grantham, which the noble and gallant Lord will know very well, to celebrate the passing out of approximately 800 reserves. They are important, and the pride that they and their families had was immense. We need to build on that.

EU Security Action for Europe Programme

Debate between Lord Coaker and Lord Peach

Monday 20th July 2026 Lords Chamber

[Lord Coaker (Lab)]

Of course we want the growth of our own industry, and we want it to have the means to support our UK Armed Forces; that is really important. But our industry and our defence also need exports, so I do not see this as one versus the other. Growing our own industries is important to supply our own Armed Forces, but working with partners to develop exports helps collective defence, and we should pursue that as well.

[Lord Peach (CB)]

My Lords, the word “weaponisation” is in common usage. Does the Minister agree that now is the time to weaponise the defence industry of the whole continent of Europe to meet the scale of the challenges that we need to be ready to deter? Forcing us apart is not the way to do it. Whether through the SAFE initiative or one of the other initiatives that the Minister mentioned, it is now time to get the supply chains of Europe together on a sound financial footing, involving all parts of a weaponised financial system, which would give us an advantage. Does the Minister agree?

[Lord Coaker (Lab)]

I agree with the point made by the noble and gallant Lord. It was best illustrated when, soon after the beginning of the Ukraine conflict, I read in a newspaper that Ukraine had had to retreat: not because it did not have the soldiers or desire to fight but because it did not have the weapons to fight with. That cannot be a situation we allow our allies or ourselves to be in in the future. The ability to keep your own forces and those of your allies supplied is absolutely crucial to any conflict. As the noble and gallant Lord pointed out, preparing for war is one sure way of preventing war.

Strait of Hormuz: Mine Clearance

Debate between Lord Coaker and Lord Peach

Monday 13th April 2026 Lords Chamber

[Lord Coaker (Lab)]

The noble Lord has huge experience in this area, and he is right to point out that it is interesting to watch the way in which the pipeline that goes across Saudi Arabia into the Red Sea and comes out through the BAM is being used. That is another way of getting oil out; certainly, that is one of the ways in which the Saudis and others have tried to maintain the supply of oil. I am sure that, in the face of the current threat in the Strait of Hormuz, people will look to see how we ensure the delivery of the oil and fuel we need. At the end of the day, that Iran is illegally closing the Strait of Hormuz to international shipping is of concern to us all and must end as soon as possible.

[Lord Peach (CB)]

I take the Minister back to the Navy of the future and agree with the proposition. In the world we are in, do we not need the Navy of the future even more quickly? Do we not need a different approach to industry and innovation? Do we not need to move even more quickly to adopt the new technology that we know we need?

[Lord Coaker (Lab)]

I totally agree with the noble and gallant Lord, and that is why I was at the National Centre for Marine Autonomy in Plymouth last week, launching the growth deal. There I saw the small businesses that were developing the drone technology and drone capabilities that are needed. I know that the noble and gallant Lord is a big advocate of this. Of course, there is a role for the big primes and massive companies to develop these things, but there is a role for small and medium-sized businesses as well, which can act at the pace that the noble and gallant Lord is talking about. That is certainly something that we should encourage. When I was in Plymouth at the National Centre for Marine Autonomy, I emphasised that and it was very keen to adopt it.

UK–EU Defence and Security Co-operation

Debate between Lord Coaker and Lord Peach

Thursday 3rd July 2025 Lords Chamber

[Lord Coaker (Lab)]

The noble Lord makes a really good point. The issues involving drones have been one of the lessons that we have all learned with respect to the conflict in Ukraine, whether they be surveillance drones, one-way drones or any other sort of attack drone. Drones are a real weapon and resource of the future. International collaboration will therefore be vital. Anybody who visits a defence conference will see the whole range of drones that are laid out. There is a coalition, which we lead with Latvia, to streamline drone procurement with respect to what we give to Ukraine. That is a starting point, but there is more to be done. Drones will simply be something that we will all have to take account of as the battlefield of the future becomes clearer.

[Lord Peach (CB)]

My Lords, I recognise the potential of the announcement made by the Minister but, in declaring my interest as a former special envoy to the Balkan region for several years, I ask the Minister to consider whether the UK could perhaps support the European Union force which is currently serving in Bosnia and Herzegovina. The reason I raise this in your Lordships’ House is that Russia continues to destabilise the Balkan region—at very low cost to itself—and will not stop. The influence that it exerts, and has exerted for decades, is only too plain to see when you visit. Can we look at that as one element of a practical outcome from this new pact? My other question, and will I close on this, is this: can we please look at new frameworks to deliver some of this potential?

[Lord Coaker (Lab)]

We need to look at the new frameworks, which will deliver many of the things that are in the defence and security partnership. The noble and gallant Lord asked specifically about Bosnia. The EU mission there is Operation Althea, as he knows, and the Government are currently considering what to do with respect to that. Let me make it clear to all Members of this House that this Government, like the previous Government, support the integrity of Bosnia and support the Dayton accords. All of us over the decades have tried to support that agreement. It is under threat at the moment, as he knows, from Dodik in the Serbian part of Bosnia. We need to do all that we can to support the Bosnian Government to continue under the Dayton accords framework.