NATO and the UK

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The UK is a founder member NATO. It is a major financial contributor to the alliance, and almost all UK Armed Forces can be assigned to NATO in times of crisis.

NATO and UK national security

The interdependence between the UK and NATO is emphasised in the Strategic Defence and Security Review (SDSR) of 2010.   The review states that we regard NATO as the bedrock of our defence, and that our obligations to our NATO Allies will continue to be among our highest priorities.

As the review also states, we will work with Allies to ensure that NATO has the political will and ability to respond to current and future security challenges in a robust and credible manner.

The UK Delegation to NATO

A delegation is effectively an embassy that represents a nation within NATO. The UK Delegation's role is to promote British interests in NATO and to keep Ministers and Government Departments informed about NATO discussions. The delegation is always working to ensure that the UK plays a full and influential role in the North Atlantic Council, the Military Committee and across the spectrum of NATO activities. It's headed by Mrs Mariot Leslie and the UK's Military Representative to NATO, Air Marshal Harper. The delegation consists of:

• Civilian personnel from the Foreign & Commonwealth Office (FCO) and the Ministry of Defence (MoD)
• Military personnel from all three British Armed Services.

For more detail on the UK Delegation to NATO's work, visit the delegation's website.