US National Security Strategy

Viscount Stansgate Excerpts

Tuesday 16th December 2025 Lords Chamber

[Baroness Chapman of Darlington (Lab)]

Clearly, it is for the United States to make its own assessment of risks to the US. We have, as my noble friend says, made our own assessment of the threat Russia poses. We do of course discuss these things constantly with the US, but as I say, it is for the US to make its own judgments about the threat to it.

[Viscount Stansgate (Lab)]

My Lords, I would not expect my noble friend to pass public judgment on the national security strategy of the United States—that is a matter for the US—but it is a remarkable document. Although I am reassured by what my noble friend said about what happened in Congress last week, nevertheless, the UK and Europe must react to it. Will my noble friend reassure the House that the Government will look even more urgently at preserving certain sovereign capabilities in critical areas such as defence, space and critical national infrastructure? This is a new world to which we must adapt accordingly.

[Baroness Chapman of Darlington (Lab)]

It is right that the world has changed, and it had changed before the most recent strategy was published. Decisions had already been taken by this Government and others to increase spending on defence and security more generally. Principally, that has of course been driven by Russia’s illegal invasion of Ukraine, but we must also take into account the words of and decisions being made by other allies and partners.