Lords Committee to question Defence Secretary on withdrawal of troops from Afghanistan and other aspects of defence policy

The evidence session will explore a wide range of operational areas overseen by the Ministry of Defence and will run from 3.00pm – 5.00pm on Wednesday 27 October. The session will be available to watch live or on demand at Parliament TV.

Questions will include:

Afghanistan

• Our report on the UK – Afghanistan relationship, published in January of this year, called for close dialogue with the US over their plans to withdraw from Afghanistan. How much discussion did you have with your American counterpart before the US announcement on withdrawal from Afghanistan? How has that decision affected broader UK-US defence relations?

Indo-Pacific

• What has been the impact of the Australia/United Kingdom/United States security pact (AUKUS) on the UK – France defence relationship? What was the rationale behind not including France in this agreement especially considering its military potential and interests in the Indo-Pacific, which are closely aligned with ours?

Sub-Saharan Africa

• What are the Government’s plans to contain or respond to Russia’s growing military presence in West Africaus?

Russsia

• Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov announced on the 18th of October that Russia is suspending its mission to NATO effective 1st of November. What implications will this have for NATO’s co-operation with Russia? How would you characterise the current UK – Russia relationship?

NATO and the European Union

• NATO has been very active in its recognition of the disproportionate impact that conflict has on women and girls, the vital roles women play in peace and security, and the importance of incorporating gender perspectives in all that the Alliance does. What actions do you plan to take to make sure that these issues remain a priority for the Alliance, particularly after the selection of a new Secretary General next year?

National Security Council

• What role does the National Security Council currently play in terms of identifying, discussing, and developing strategies specifically for defence-related issues and challenges?

Armed Forces

• To what extent are you concerned about the size of the Armed Forces? Can we continue to aspire to global influence, particularly in the Indo-Pacific, if force levels are reduced further?