PM statement to leaders at NATO Summit in Lithuania: 12 July 2023
Prime Minister Rishi Sunak's press statement at NATO summit in Vilnius, Lithuania.
This summit stands out as a landmark in NATO鈥檚 long history.
We arrived here faced with a more volatile and dangerous world鈥�
A mechanised war in Europe on a scale not seen since 1945鈥�
And increasing aggression from authoritarian states, challenging our security in Europe and beyond.
But as we leave Vilnius, we are more confident and more united than ever.
Let me set out three reasons why that鈥檚 the case.
First, we鈥檝e acted decisively to strengthen this alliance.
Agreeing the most fundamental transformation to NATO鈥檚 readiness since the Cold War鈥�
Comprehensive warfighting plans to defend the UK and its allies鈥�
Scaled up defence production to boost our stockpiles, which will benefit British industry鈥�
And increased defence spending鈥�
鈥ith all allies now committed to hitting the 2% target.
And we did something here in Vilnius that not long ago seemed impossible鈥�
We welcomed Finland to the table as a NATO member鈥�
鈥�.and very soon we鈥檒l be doing the same with Sweden.
We are stronger with them by our side鈥� and in time we will be stronger with Ukraine as a NATO ally too.
This is my second point鈥�
It is now over 500 days since Russia鈥檚 invasion.
500 days of barbarity.
Of innocent people being murdered in their homes.
Of children being killed, abducted and used as human shields.
I want to pay tribute to the Ukrainian people and to their incredible bravery and resilience.
They鈥檙e still standing strong and defiant鈥� and the counteroffensive is making progress.
In the last few weeks, they鈥檝e taken back more ground than Russia has taken in the last year.
We are standing with them鈥�
鈥nd allies are doubling down in their support.
At the Munich Security Conference in February, I called for long-term security arrangements鈥�
鈥o protect Ukraine, break the cycle of Russian violence, and ultimately help to end this war.
And today we have delivered.
Together with our G7 partners we have agreed to provide the long-term bilateral security commitments that Ukraine needs.
These commitments mark a new high point in international support for Ukraine.
And I want to be clear, they are not a substitute for NATO membership.
The summit communique echoes the UK鈥檚 long-held position that 鈥淯kraine鈥檚 future is in NATO.鈥�
And we鈥檝e taken a big step this week towards bringing Ukraine into the alliance.
Together we鈥檝e shortened their path to membership鈥�
鈥emoving the need for a Membership Action Plan鈥�
鈥nd holding the first meeting of the NATO-Ukraine Council with President Zelenskyy sitting at the table, by our side, as an equal.
Finally, I鈥榙 like to say a word about the UK鈥檚 role here.
I was struck once again this week by just how highly valued our contribution is.
The British people should know that 鈥� and they should be proud.
We are the leading European contributor to NATO.
We were one of the first to hit the 2% target and now we鈥檙e moving towards 2.5%.
We spend more than 20 other NATO countries combined, but it鈥檚 about much more than that.
It鈥檚 about our incredible Armed Forces across land, air and sea.
We鈥檙e one of the only countries that contributes to every NATO mission with RAF jets patrolling the eastern flank鈥�
Troops on the ground in Estonia and Poland as part of NATO鈥檚 enhanced forward presence鈥�
And the Royal Navy, including our two aircraft carriers, providing around a quarter of NATO鈥檚 maritime capability.
It鈥檚 about our deep partnerships鈥�
With Japan and Italy we鈥檙e producing a sixth-generation fighter through our Global Combat Air Program鈥�
鈥nd with AUKUS, we鈥檙e working with Australia and the US to build some of the most advanced nuclear-powered submarines the world has ever known.
And it鈥檚 about leadership.
We鈥檝e led the way on Ukraine鈥� moving first on tanks and long-range missiles鈥� training their troops for the counter-offensive.
Just today I鈥檝e announced we鈥檙e providing more ammunition, 70 more combat vehicles, as well as a new rehabilitation centre for injured Ukrainian veterans.
We鈥檙e moving forward with the combat air coalition鈥�
鈥nd the UK starts training Ukrainian pilots next month.
And we鈥檙e using our leadership in technology to keep NATO at the cutting edge鈥�
Hosting the European Headquarters of the Defence Innovation Accelerator in the UK鈥�
鈥nd holding the first global summit on AI Safety later this year.
The UK has been there since the start of this alliance.
In 1948, in the hope of avoiding another devastating war, we joined together with a handful of allies鈥�
鈥o pledge that we would come to one another鈥檚 defence.
That pact was the seed of the North Atlantic Treaty.
75 years later, faced with new threats in Europe, NATO is more important than ever.
It has proved itself to be the most successful Alliance in history鈥�
鈥nd this week we鈥檝e shown once again that the UK is at its heart.
Thank you.