PM stresses need for collective security to NATO

Prime Minister Boris Johnson is travelling to Brussels for a NATO Summit in which he will stress that the global recovery from coronavirus must be underpinned by shared security.

Earlier this year the UK published a wholescale review of our foreign, defence and security policy. The Integrated Review committed to Euro-Atlantic security and the NATO alliance, underpinned by a £24.1 billion investment in the UK’s defence capability.

With the pandemic having exacerbated attacks on that security, both directly through hostile actors carrying out cyber attacks on allies’ health systems, and indirectly through the devastating impact instability and conflict can have on countries’ ability to cope with health crises, Johnson will say that the current political climate has reinforced the value of NATO and allies must redouble their commitment for the alliance and ensure it adapts to meet the challenges of the future.

During the Summit, Allies are expected to discuss the drawdown of troops from Afghanistan and the new chapter in NATO’s relationship with the country. The Prime Minister will pay tribute to the 150,000 British troops who served in Afghanistan and emphasise the UK’s commitment to support the government of Afghanistan, including in its efforts to counter terrorism, through all of our diplomatic, development and defence work.

Johnson said: “NATO is not just important to the UK’s security, it is our security. NATO owes it to the billion people we keep safe every day to continually adapt and evolve to meet new challenges and face down emerging threats. This will ensure NATO is still the bedrock of global defence for generations to come.

“As we recover from the global devastation wreaked by the coronavirus pandemic we need to do so with secure foundations. The peace and stability brought by NATO has underpinned global prosperity for over 70 years, and I have every confidence it will continue to do so now.”