Oral QuestionMinistry of Defence

Whether he is taking steps to increase the UK's level of military independence from the US.

Tabled: 27 January 2026Answered: 2 February 2026

Asked by

Ayoub Khan

IndependentBirmingham Perry Barr

Answering Minister

the Secretary of State for Defence

Answer from Hansard

The Minister for Defence Readiness and Industry (Luke Pollard)

The US remains the UK’s principal defence and security partner, and our co-operation on defence, nuclear capability and intelligence remains as close and effective as any anywhere in the world, keeping Britain safe in an increasingly dangerous environment. As close friends, we are not afraid to have difficult conversations when we need to. Friends turn up for each other, as we did for the US in Afghanistan, and friends are also honest with each other, as the Prime Minister has set out.