Question to the Ministry of Defence:

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, whether he has made an assessment of the adequacy of troops and equipment to repel an attack from Russia on a NATO ally on the eastern border with Russia.

Answered by Louise Sandher-Jones - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Ministry of Defence) (Minister for the Armed Forces)

As part of NATO's focus on Deterrence and Defence of the Euro-Atlantic Area, NATO manages its Strategic, Operational and Tactical Plans across all domains to assure the Alliance's ability to respond to any threat that posed by Russia, including on NATO’s eastern flank. The UK has a predefined role in these plans, including the Forward deployment of our battlegroup in Estonia reinforced by a brigade held at readiness in the UK. The Forward Land Forces Battlegroup and Brigade at readiness undertakes sovereign and NATO Allied Land Command validation exercises before it is deployed to ensure it meets NATO operating standards expected to repel an attack from Russia.

In the event of an attack and where Article 5 is invoked, it is SACEUR has the operational permission to implement and execute all military measures necessary to restore and ensure the territorial integrity of the alliance.

Question to the Ministry of Defence:

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, whether he plans to move troops to the eastern border with Russia if required to repel a Russian attack.

Answered by Louise Sandher-Jones - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Ministry of Defence) (Minister for the Armed Forces)

As part of NATO's focus on Deterrence and Defence of the Euro-Atlantic Area, NATO manages its Strategic, Operational and Tactical Plans across all domains to assure the Alliance's ability to respond to any threat that posed by Russia, including on NATO’s eastern flank. The UK has a predefined role in these plans, including the Forward deployment of our battlegroup in Estonia reinforced by a brigade held at readiness in the UK. The Forward Land Forces Battlegroup and Brigade at readiness undertakes sovereign and NATO Allied Land Command validation exercises before it is deployed to ensure it meets NATO operating standards expected to repel an attack from Russia.

In the event of an attack and where Article 5 is invoked, it is SACEUR has the operational permission to implement and execute all military measures necessary to restore and ensure the territorial integrity of the alliance.

Question to the Ministry of Defence:

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, whether there is a NATO troop mobility plan to repel any attack from Russia on the eastern flank.

Answered by Louise Sandher-Jones - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Ministry of Defence) (Minister for the Armed Forces)

As part of NATO's focus on Deterrence and Defence of the Euro-Atlantic Area, NATO manages its Strategic, Operational and Tactical Plans across all domains to assure the Alliance's ability to respond to any threat that posed by Russia, including on NATO’s eastern flank. The UK has a predefined role in these plans, including the Forward deployment of our battlegroup in Estonia reinforced by a brigade held at readiness in the UK. The Forward Land Forces Battlegroup and Brigade at readiness undertakes sovereign and NATO Allied Land Command validation exercises before it is deployed to ensure it meets NATO operating standards expected to repel an attack from Russia.

In the event of an attack and where Article 5 is invoked, it is SACEUR has the operational permission to implement and execute all military measures necessary to restore and ensure the territorial integrity of the alliance.

Question to the Ministry of Defence:

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, whether the UK has the capability to respond swiftly if Belarus and Kaliningrad attempt to close the Suwalki pass.

Answered by Louise Sandher-Jones - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Ministry of Defence) (Minister for the Armed Forces)

NATO has the capability and commitment to defend every inch of Alliance territory.

The UK remains staunchly committed to NATO's collective defence obligation, offering almost all of our Armed Forces to NATO including high-readiness forces, which can be deployed as part of NATO's collective defence plans if necessary.

Question to the Ministry of Defence:

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, whether his Department has assessed the threat of Belarus and Kaliningrad closing the Suwalki pass.

Answered by Louise Sandher-Jones - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Ministry of Defence) (Minister for the Armed Forces)

The Ministry of Defence continually monitors developments across the Euro-Atlantic region, including those relevant to NATO's eastern flank. The Government remains committed to the collective defence of the Alliance and works closely with NATO Allies to understand and respond to emerging threats.