The UK contribution to European security

The House of Commons Defence Committee has published a major report, “The UK contribution to European Security”, setting out a stark assessment of the threats facing Europe and the steps the UK must now take to remain secure at home and credible abroad. 

At its core, the report argues that:

• The threat to European security is already serious – not theoretical. Russia’s war on Ukraine, nuclear coercion, incursions into European airspace, espionage and sabotage across the continent (including the UK) form a single, systemic challenge, enabled by China, Iran and North Korea.

• NATO remains the cornerstone of UK defence, but the Alliance is under pressure – above all from Russian aggression and shifting US priorities.

• The UK is still a leading European military power, but its ability to sustain that leadership is at risk unless it urgently strengthens capability, capacity, defence industry and homeland resilience.

NATO first – but delivery must catch up

The Government has committed to a “NATO First” approach, with UK planning, investment and force development aligned to NATO’s new regional plans and capability targets. The Committee welcomes this, but warns that: 

• The UK’s lack of mass and delays in delivering promised capabilities are undermining its leadership role.

• The UK is not yet meeting its obligations under NATO’s Article 3 (to maintain its own capacity to resist armed attack), particularly in relation to home defence and resilience.

• Europe as a whole remains over-reliant on US strategic enablers – intelligence, lift, refuelling, missile defence – and must now invest to shoulder a greater share of the burden.

The report calls on the Government to set out a clear roadmap for implementing the Strategic Defence Review (SDR), publish annual progress updates, and move faster on high-impact areas such as drones, AI, autonomy and integrated air and missile defence. 

Fixing the defence industrial base

The Committee is blunt that the UK defence industrial base is not yet configured for sustained collective defence. It highlights: 

• Under-investment, fragile supply chains and limited surge capacity.

• Long-standing problems with procurement, demand signalling, and security vetting – especially for SMEs and innovators.

• The risk that extra defence spending will simply be swallowed by defence-specific inflation if capacity is not expanded.

The Government’s new Defence Industrial Strategy and Defence Reform agenda are welcomed – but the Committee stresses that success must be judged on outcomes, not new structures or processes. It calls for:

• A much faster grip on munitions production and stockpiles.

• Annual publication of industrial capacity data.

• A coherent defence finance strategy, including practical solutions where banks and investors are unwilling to support defence companies.

Defending the homeland – a whole-of-society effort

Perhaps the most uncomfortable finding is that the UK still lacks a fully developed plan for defending the homeland and Overseas Territories, despite the growing tempo of sabotage, cyber attacks and grey-zone activity. 

The report notes:

• The cross-Government Home Defence Programme, which should fulfil the UK’s NATO Article 3 obligations, is still incomplete and classified.

• The proposed Defence Readiness Bill – intended to give Government the powers needed to mobilise industry, infrastructure and society in a crisis – has not yet been written.

• Public engagement on risk and resilience remains limited, despite the Prime Minister’s promise of a “national conversation on defence and security”.

The Committee calls for:

• A clear timetable for the Home Defence Programme, with appropriate briefings to Parliament.

• A dedicated Minister for Homeland Security to drive delivery across departments.

• Early publication of Defence Readiness legislation and regular statements to Parliament on progress.

Why this matters for policymakers, industry and partners

For governments, defence planners, industry leaders and investors, this report is both a warning and a roadmap. It makes clear that:

• The window to rebuild credible European defence – with the UK playing a leading role – is narrowing.

• Industrial resilience, finance and homeland defence are no longer “back-office” issues, but central to deterrence.

• The UK must pair strategic ambition with hard choices on capability, force structure and national preparedness.

Download the full report