Last year, I took part in the Armed Forces Parliamentary Scheme with the RAF, as part of a programme of engagement that helps Members of Parliament better understand the breadth of work, dedication and skill of our Armed Forces.
To truly appreciate the challenges and sacrifices of our military personnel, both at home and overseas, in keeping the British public safe is invaluable. Given the decisions Parliament has to debate from defence funding to legal protections for veterans and, when necessary, military action. (Although this is ultimately and rightly a power of the Prime Minister.)
So following the recent Ankara Summit, I was pleased to now be able to visit NATO Headquarters in Brussels as part of a delegation from this Armed Forces Parliamentary Scheme. We had the privilege of meeting senior British diplomats and military personnel to hear the latest on the threats to Europe from Russia and others.
The NATO alliance has been hugely strengthened since Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in 2022 and it remains vital that each member state pulls their weight in terms of defence investment. That is why it is vital that we increase spending on our Armed Forces to 3% of GDP by 2030.
