US National Security Strategy

Lord Callanan Excerpts

Tuesday 16th December 2025 Lords Chamber

Our bond delivers on both sides of the Atlantic. Our trading relationship is worth over £330 billion annually, we have over £1.2 trillion in mutual investment, and our businesses support over a million jobs in each other’s countries. The UK will continue to work closely with the US to strengthen Euro-Atlantic security through NATO, to support Ukraine, and to deepen our co-operation on emerging technologies and economic security. The strength of our relationship allows us to discuss and debate areas where we disagree, so we continue to strengthen this vital and mutually beneficial relationship with the United States. During the state visit, we announced over £250 billion in two-way investment, which was a powerful demonstration of the deepening economic ties between the UK and the US, and we signed a UK-US technology prosperity deal—the first of its kind—that will supercharge our co-operation across areas including AI, quantum and nuclear”.

[Lord Callanan (Con)]

My Lords, the new US strategy makes it even more vital that the UK remains a key part of European and global defence. As the new head of MI6 reminded us yesterday, threats to us and our allies are increasing, and it is surely abundantly clear that we need to step up against the threat posed by both Russia and China. We should be serious about spending 3% of GDP on defence by the end of this Parliament, so can I ask the Minister whether she can confirm whether it is the Government’s ambition to reach 3% and whether the Treasury has a funded plan to do so?

Secondly, the US strategy is particularly clear about the nature of the Chinese Communist Party regime threat. That contrasts with this Government, who cannot seem to decide whether or not China is a threat. We have seen recent reports that the Government are poised to approve China’s new super-embassy spy hub, presumably when the House is in recess. Could the Minister confirm whether the US Government have expressed any concerns to this Government about the potential approval of that application?

[The Minister of State, Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (Baroness Chapman of Darlington)]

My Lords, the Government’s ambition is to spend 3% of GDP on defence and 5% on security by 2035. On China, our position is clear and has been consistent, unlike that of the previous Government, where we will compete, co-operate and challenge as appropriate. The US Administration, to my knowledge, have not expressed an opinion on a planning application.