What are the UK and Europe’s most significant capability gaps? Experts to give evidence to the Defence Committee

Evidence Session: The UK contribution to European security  

Tuesday 29 April 2025, 10.30, CR5 

The Defence Committee continues its inquiry into the UK contribution to European security, holding an evidence session with expert witnesses. Representatives from the Human Security Centre, the Council on Geostrategy and the University of Exeter, will appear to give evidence. 

The session will explore the UK's contribution to NATO, British and European capability gaps, and the need for Europe-wide air and missile defence, amongst other topics. 

Members are likely to ask about British and European capability gaps, and whether Europe is currently too reliant on the United States' capabilities. The two panels are likely to discuss the role of the UK's nuclear deterrent in Europe, whether the UK's “NATO first” position may take focus away from the Indo-Pacific, and whether the UK could defend against the air and missile threat that we are currently seeing on the battlefield—and targeted at population centres—in Ukraine. 

10.30, Tuesday 29 April: 

• Dr Rowan Allport – Deputy Director, The Human Security Centre 

• William Freer – Research Fellow in National Security, Council on Geostrategy 

11.30: 

• Professor Peter Roberts – Associate Fellow, Centre for Public Understanding of Defence and Security, University of Exeter