Oral Answers to Questions

Callum Anderson Excerpts

Monday 15th December 2025 Commons Chamber

[Ben Goldsborough (South Norfolk) (Lab)]

18. What recent discussions he has had with NATO counterparts on European security.

[Callum Anderson (Buckingham and Bletchley) (Lab)]

21. What recent discussions he has had with NATO counterparts on European security.

[Chris Vince (Harlow) (Lab/Co-op)]

22. What recent discussions he has had with NATO counterparts on European security.

--- Later in debate ---

[Al Carns]

I thank my hon. Friend for the opportunity to acknowledge the vital military history and work of Norfolk. Whether defending the UK from zeppelin raids in world war one or serving as a frontline bomber command in world war two, RAF Marham has long been a cornerstone of our UK’s airpower. We are investing in RAF Marham, procuring multiple F-35 jets that will fly from the base. Those will strengthen NATO’s nuclear deterrence posture and add huge paths over to my hon. Friend’s constituency.

[Callum Anderson]

Deterrence depends not only on military strength but on our economic resilience, from energy security to protecting our critical infrastructure and vital industries. Will the Minister provide more information on what conversations he has been having with our partners and NATO allies in Europe, to align our economic security measures with our broader defence strategy on our continent?

[Al Carns]

The reality is that armies, navies and air forces respond to crisis; economies, industries and societies win wars. We are stepping up in these key areas, but we are not alone. As a great general once said, there is only one thing worse than working with allies, and that is working without them. We are doing this together. We are working within NATO to integrate economic security such as supply chain resilience for critical sectors and collective defence planning, and as part of the G7 we are strengthening investment, screening, export controls and the protection of critical national infrastructure.