EU Security Action for Europe Programme

Lord Peach Excerpts

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.