NATO and European Political Community Meetings

The Prime Minister, Keir Starmer, opened the debate by outlining the Government's position on a range of foreign policy issues. He emphasized the UK's unwavering commitment to the NATO alliance and support for Ukraine in the face of Russia's illegal invasion. Starmer stated that the UK would provide £3 billion in military aid to Ukraine annually for as long as necessary and reaffirmed Ukraine's path to full NATO membership. The Leader of the Opposition, Rishi Sunak, welcomed the Prime Minister's statement and praised the continued cross-party consensus on foreign policy. Sunak expressed support for the UK's leadership within NATO and the European Political Community, and urged the Government to continue increasing defence spending to 2.5% of GDP by 2030. He also called for the UK to work closely with European partners to address the issue of illegal migration. The debate that followed covered a wide range of topics. Several members of Parliament, from both the Government and Opposition benches, praised the Prime Minister's efforts to reset the UK's relationship with the European Union, while emphasizing that this did not mean rejoining the EU or the single market. There was broad support for the UK's continued commitment to the NATO alliance and provision of support to Ukraine. The situation in the Middle East, particularly the conflict in Gaza, was also discussed, with the Prime Minister reiterating the Government's call for an immediate ceasefire and a return to the path of a two-state solution. Members of Parliament urged the Government to take a strong stance on upholding international law in the region. The issue of illegal migration across the English Channel was a key focus, with the Prime Minister outlining the Government's plans to establish a new border security command and increase cooperation with European partners to tackle the problem. Several members of Parliament welcomed these efforts, while emphasizing the need to address the root causes of migration, such as conflict, poverty, and climate change. Throughout the debate, there was a clear sense of unity and bipartisanship on the major foreign policy challenges facing the UK, with both the Government and Opposition expressing a shared commitment to protecting the country's interests and upholding its values on the global stage.