The United Kingdom

Abstract

AbstractThis chapter examines the British policy towards the North Atlantic Alliance. The United Kingdom has always been unambiguous in its position on NATO. London helped to establish the Alliance in 1949 and ever since has striven to be its most important European ally. In consequence, the United Kingdom has provided a significant material contribution to NATO missions and command and sees itself as at the forefront of debates on NATO strategy and purpose. With rare exception (the case of Scottish nationalism), NATO membership is beyond question in domestic politics—and the Alliance has never obtained the same controversial status as the European Union. UK foreign and defence policies retain pretensions towards global influence, evidenced in the 2021 Integrated Review of Security, Defence, Development and Foreign Policy. High standing within NATO is one means by which that influence is to be exercised. The United Kingdom has also traditionally seen NATO as an essential bridge in its relationship with the United States, and this is even more so after Brexit. For London, transatlanticism is key to the Alliance, but this has, at times, created tensions with Paris and occasionally with Berlin. Overall, the chapter portrays the United Kingdom as being amongst NATO’s most stalwart and reliable allies and predicts that this is likely to remain so for the foreseeable future.