HC Deb 12 June 1997 vol 295 cc531-2W
Mrs. Clwyd

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what is his Department's policy on the conclusions of the US Department of State report on the Enlargement of NATO, with particular reference to the responsibility for bearing the costs associated with improving NATO's regional reinforcement capabilities. [3180]

Dr. John Reid

The report to Congress by the US Administration on the enlargement of NATO provides a useful assessment of the relevant issues. In the current and foreseeable security environment, the Alliance will carry out the collective defence of both existing and new members and other missions by ensuring the necessary interoperability, integration and capability for reinforcement. On that basis, we do not expect NATO enlargement of itself to require significant changes to the capabilities already determined collectively by the Alliance as necessary to fulfil this strategy.

Mrs. Clwyd

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what is his estimate of the financial cost to Britain of NATO expansion up to the year 2001. [3181]

Dr. Reid

No decisions have been taken on which countries will accede to NATO membership, when, or on what terms. The costs of enlargement, which will fall both on the countries which join and on the existing members of the Alliance and which will be incurred over a long period, will depend on those decisions. Subject to that caveat, we expect the costs of enlargement to be manageable.

Mrs. Clwyd

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what proposals he has to revise NATO's Strategic Concept agreed in 1991. [3182]

Dr. Reid

The Alliance's Strategic Concept, adopted by NATO's Heads of State and Government at their meeting in Rome in 1991, sets out the principal aims and objectives of the Alliance. Recognising the changes in the strategic environment since 1991, the Alliance has decided to examine the Strategic Concept to ensure that it is fully consistent with Europe's new security situation and challenges. NATO Foreign Ministers decided, at their meeting in Sintra on 29 May, to recommend to NATO's Heads of State and Government that they should decide the way ahead at their Summit in Madrid on 8 and 9 July.