Shadow Defence Secretary John Healey visits NATO headquarters on Tuesday as he presses home Labour ’s commitment to the alliance.
The frontbencher’s trip to the 30-member coalition’s Brussels HQ comes just days before Britain falls silent to mark Armistice Day on Friday and Remembrance Sunday this weekend.
Mr Healey’s visit also comes as war wages on mainland Europe as Russians and Ukrainians clash on the battlefield.
The Shadow Cabinet Minister will tell NATO’s Deputy Secretary-General Mircea Geoană that Labour would apply a “NATO test” to all major defence projects to check the UK meets in full its alliance obligations.
Writing exclusively for the Mirror, Mr Healey says: “I’m travelling to NATO’s headquarters in Brussels this week to meet the Deputy Secretary-General, as well as ambassadors from nations across the alliance.
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“I will be confirming Labour’s plans to apply a ‘NATO test’ to major defence projects in our first 100 days in government to check the UK meets its NATO commitments in full.
“We will review capability gaps, deal with unresolved procurement decisions and make sure our armed forces have the equipment they need to fight and fulfil our NATO obligations.”
The visit is the latest stage of Labour’s fight to show its loyalty to NATO following Jeremy Corbyn ’s reign.
The former party leader regularly criticised the alliance, which was founded in 1949 under then Labour Prime Minister Clement Attlee.
Keir Starmer has put defence and security at the centre of his mission to drag the party back to the centre ground in the run-up to the next general election, which is due by January 2025.
NATO has enjoyed a huge resurgence following Putin’s invasion of Ukraine on February 24.
Experts feared its future could be under threat after then US President Donald Trump triggered a furious spending row in 2018 when he used a summit to blast European nations for failing to pump enough cash into the organisation.
Three years ago, French President Emmanuel Macron warned that “what we are currently experiencing is the brain death of NATO”.
However, following Russia ’s invasion of its neighbour, member states have pledged equipment for Kyiv and promised to boost their own armed forces.
Finland and Sweden have applied to join.
In Britain, Defence Secretary Ben Wallace has been locked in talks with Chancellor Jeremy Hunt before the Autumn Statement on November 17 over funding for the military.
Former Prime Minister Liz Truss vowed to hike the UK’s defence budget to 2.5% of GDP by 2026 and 3% by 2030.
It is currently just 2.12%.
Rishi Sunak has yet to offer the same commitments - raising fears that cash increases could be shelved or watered down.
In his article, Mr Healey warns: “After 12 years of Tory government there are now questions over critical capabilities that could undermine the UK’s full contribution to NATO.”
Shadow Defence Secretary John Healey writes exclusively for the Mirror
The defence of our nation has renewed importance in an increasingly uncertain world.
Vladimir Putin ’s brutal invasion of Ukraine is the biggest threat to European security since the Cold War.
It has also reaffirmed the abiding importance of NATO.
Western allies have shown iron resolve in confronting Russian aggression and supporting Ukraine.
On Britain’s military help to Ukraine, and on reinforcing NATO allies on the Russian border, the Government has had – and will continue to have – our fullest Labour support.
Labour’s commitment to NATO is unshakeable - ensuring Britain meets its obligations to the alliance is the cornerstone of our collective security.
But after 12 years of Tory Government there are now questions over critical capabilities that could undermine the UK’s full contribution to NATO.
Long-running problems with new Ajax armoured vehicles remain unresolved, vital RAF Wedgetail surveillance planes are delayed, new Navy support ships have still not been ordered and doubts grow about the Army’s ability to field a modern warfighting division.
I’m travelling to NATO’s headquarters in Brussels this week to meet the Deputy Secretary-General, as well as ambassadors from nations across the alliance.
I will be confirming Labour’s plans to apply a ‘NATO test’ to major defence projects in our first 100 days in government to check the UK meets its NATO commitments in full.
We will review capability gaps, deal with unresolved procurement decisions and make sure our armed forces have the equipment they need to fight and fulfil our NATO obligations.
Labour will secure the UK’s status as the leading European nation on collective security and defence.
This is our unshakeable Labour commitment to NATO in action.
