Oral Answers to Questions

Jeff Smith Excerpts

Monday 12th December 2016 Commons Chamber

[Jonathan Reynolds (Stalybridge and Hyde) (Lab/Co-op)]

1. What discussions he has had with the incoming US Administration on their policy on article 5 of the NATO treaty.

[Jeff Smith (Manchester, Withington) (Lab)]

5. What discussions he has had with the incoming US Administration on their policy on article 5 of the NATO treaty.

[Dan Jarvis (Barnsley Central) (Lab)]

8. What discussions he has had with the incoming US Administration on their role in NATO.

--- Later in debate ---

[Sir Michael Fallon]

General Mattis is not only experienced in combat in Iraq and Afghanistan but has served as a NATO commander. He is well aware of the importance of the alliance not only to our security but to the United States itself, and it is the unity of the alliance that sends the most powerful message to President Putin.

[Jeff Smith]

At the recent Warsaw summit, NATO leaders made a commitment to step up collective action against Daesh. What assurances has the Secretary of State had from the incoming Administration that they remain committed to that and to the principle of collective defence in working with allies in the fight against Daesh?

[Sir Michael Fallon]

I shall be hosting the counter-Daesh coalition ministerial meeting in London on Thursday. I have seen nothing from the incoming Administration’s plans to indicate that they would take any different approach. The United States is leading the coalition work against Daesh. Considerable progress is being made in Iraq and starting to be made in Syria. NATO, too, now has a contribution to make to that.