US National Security Strategy

Lord Stirrup Excerpts

Tuesday 16th December 2025 Lords Chamber

[Baroness Chapman of Darlington (Lab)]

I thank my noble friend for that. While we must not disregard, of course, statements that are made, I do think it important that we focus on the work we can do together in a pragmatic way. As he says, let us focus on the things we do, not just the things that are said.

[Lord Stirrup (CB)]

My Lords, does the Minister agree that, while we might strongly contest some of the claims made in this strategy, it would be wrong to dismiss it totally out of hand, not least because it reflects deeper shifts in American opinion, not just an aberration of a single presidency, and that it clearly demonstrates that the Government are not doing nearly enough quickly enough to improve European defence capabilities? Taking the strategy at its own words, have the Government inquired of the White House how it squares the assertion:

“It is a core interest of the United States to negotiate an expeditious cessation of hostilities in Ukraine”


with its earlier claim that

“we stand for the sovereign rights of nations”?