Defence Select Committee Visit to the U.S.

Last week, I joined the House of Commons Defence Select Committee on a visit to the U.S. Our agenda included discussions with NATO Joint Force Command Norfolk, Australian Strategic Policy Institute, RAND, Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS), the United States Department of Defense and the U.S. Department of State. We spoke with members of Congress, industry, and academia - all focused on the future of defence and transatlantic cooperation.

Key Takeaways:

◾ US Strategic Shift: The US is accelerating in rebalancing its global posture, with a sharp focus on the Indo-Pacific and homeland defence. This shift is reshaping expectations for NATO and allied contributions.

◾ European Leadership: There’s a clear call for Europe to step up on Ukraine - more investment, greater leadership, and realistic prioritisation are essential as the US pivots east.

◾ Industrial Strategy: We need to deliver on capability targets and build robust industrial bases, prioritising lethal and autonomous capabilities. The U.S. is investing $1bn in agile defence tech, partners are invited in, but only if we ditch sclerotic procurement systems.

◾ AUKUS & the Indo-Pacific: AUKUS remains a cornerstone of US-UK-Australia collaboration, with a focus on technology, supply chains, and infrastructure, but also a reminder to avoid overstretch and maintain focus where it counts.

◾ Cyber & Space: These domains are now central to security. Allied coordination and investment here are non-negotiable.

U.S. officials emphasised a “factory reset” in thinking about deterrence, burden-sharing, and industrial mobilisation. It is essential for the UK and its allies to think through the implications as we navigate a rapidly changing world.

Special thanks to the UK Ministry of Defence - British Defence Staff Washington for all their support during the visit!