Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask Her Majesty’s Government what consideration they have given to making representations to NATO to (1) widen its role and membership, (2) develop a homeland security-type function, (3) create a counter-terrorist command to work in conjunction with the security services of member states, (4) develop a new vision based on combating Islamist terrorism and the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction, and (5) invite Israel, India, Japan, Australia and New Zealand to join.

At its Summit in Warsaw in 2016 NATO reaffirmed its commitment to its three core tasks - collective defence, crisis management, and cooperative security – as set out in the 2010 Strategic Concept. NATO's Open Door Policy, a founding principle of the Washington Treaty, remains in place and we hope to see Montenegro join the Alliance shortly. The North Atlantic Treaty does not make provision for non-European states to join the Alliance.

At its Defence Ministerial Meeting in February 2017, NATO restated the need to continue to adapt to address 21^st Century threats. It is already involved in international efforts to counter terrorism. There are, however, no plans to create a counter terrorism command.