John Baron MP raises defence diplomacy during Defence Statement

MP disagrees with cuts to conventional forces

Yesterday the Secretary of State for Defence, Rt Hon Ben Wallace MP, gave a Statement in the House of Commons regarding the Command Paper on the future of the Armed Forces. This is bound up with the Integrated Review into British foreign policy, which was launched last week, and sets out how the Armed Forces will be changing in the coming years to meet the challenges of the next decades.

In the Chamber, John asked,

“There is much to welcome in this Statement. My only concern relates to some of the cuts in our conventional forces, because quantity still has a quality all of its own. For example, no matter how potent a naval vessel might be, it can not be in two places at once. May I turn my right hon. Friend’s attention to the importance of soft power in helping to avoid conflict in the first place? I know that this is something he agrees with. What plans are there in the integrated review and the Command Paper to increase resource investment in defence diplomacy as a means of increasing our soft power capabilities?”

The Secretary of State responded that the Government is investing in and increasing the number of defence attachés worldwide, and is improving their curriculum and training to help them be more effective in their roles. A separate career stream is also being established with added support to enable attachés to become proficient in certain parts of the world, including language skills, in order to bolster the efforts of British diplomats.

John said,

“I welcome this helpful response from the Defence Secretary. It is good news that defence diplomacy, which adds to a country’s soft power capabilities, is being given increased resources. Greater trust and understanding helps avoid conflicts in the first place, thereby repaying any investment many times over.”

“However, I have reservations about the cuts to conventional forces. Whilst we have to adapt to the times, there will always be a need for the ability to deploy soldiers on the ground. There are some large assumptions behind some of the decisions in this strategy, and I hope our ambitions are not getting ahead of our capabilities.”

Notes to Editors:

• John is Chairman of the British Council All-Party Parliamentary Group.

• For a full transcript of the exchange, please visit: https://hansard.parliament.uk/commons/2021-03-22/debates/49173AD7-1180-4251-8F29-58EB9E9D1C75/IntegratedReviewDefenceCommandPaper#contribution-8A0F7C3F-C8E5-47EB-A7F1-6C592C4B558E.