European Council Debate

Full Debate: Read Full Debate
Department: Cabinet Office

European Council

Edward Leigh Excerpts
Monday 26th March 2018

(6 years, 8 months ago)

Commons Chamber
Read Full debate Read Hansard Text Read Debate Ministerial Extracts
Edward Leigh Portrait Sir Edward Leigh (Gainsborough) (Con)
- Hansard - -

Russia respects strength, and one of the lessons of the 1930s is that it is dangerous to give commitments to eastern Europe unless we back up such commitments with military hardware. Our commitment to the Baltic states is relatively modest; I think we have 800 men in the Baltic states. Will the Prime Minister consider increasing our military commitment and our support for the Baltic states, so that we can build European solidarity on the basis of a coalition of peace through security?

Baroness May of Maidenhead Portrait The Prime Minister
- Hansard - - - Excerpts

We do look constantly at the contribution that we are making. My hon. Friend is right that we have several hundred troops in Estonia as part of the enhanced forward presence. We are also contributing in other parts of Europe—to the work that is being done, for example, in Poland. However, we will obviously continue to look at this.