HL Deb 15 January 1998 vol 584 c206WA
Lord Kennet

asked Her Majesty's Government:

What are the implications for the United Kingdom and for the European Union's common foreign and security policies of—(a) the Revolution in Military Affairs (RMA) in the United States and the capabilities for "Information Warfare", "Navigation Warfare" and "Space Warfare" being developed within it; (b) the military doctrines of "Full Spectrum Dominance" and "Shock and Awe" currently being developed within the RMA; (c) the vulnerabilities associated with these developments, as examined in the Report of the United States Presidential Commission on Critical Infrastructure Protection, which might also affect the United Kingdom and other European countries; and

What are the implications for the United Kingdom and for the European Union's common foreign and security policies of the situation described by the chairman of the NATO Defence Committee, General Nauman, as an approaching "disconnect" between the United States and its NATO allies consequent upon the Revolution in Military Affairs in the United States.

The Minister of State, Ministry of Defence (Lord Gilbert)

The implications for the United Kingdom of developments in defence technology and doctrine are kept under review by the Ministry of Defence. The emergence of new infrastructure vulnerabilities and the impact of the so-called Revolution in Military Affairs form part of this work, which also includes the important requirement to maintain adequate interoperability with United States forces. They are being taken fully into account in theStrategic Defence Review. We would not, however, expect these issues to affect the European Union's common foreign and security policy.