Securing Britain and Defending Liberalism

The global security landscape has reached a dangerous tipping point. Decades of post-Cold War stability have been shattered by Russia’s brutal war in Ukraine, systemic threats from China, and the reckless and unpredictable foreign policy of Donald Trump’s White House. From direct threats against NATO allies to volatile tariff wars, Trump has shattered the bedrock of British international security policy.

While the Conservatives left Britain’s armed forces in a perilous, hollowed-out state, the Labour Government has shown an alarming lack of urgency in restoring Britain’s defences with proper funding or delivering a values-based vision for the UK’s place in the world.

Liberal Democrats believe that defending our security and upholding our values requires strength, resilience, and international partnership. Today, our members passed our policy to establish a comprehensive international security strategy, aimed at rebuilding Britain's military capability, deepening our ties with Europe, making us more resilient at home and standing up for the rules-based order.
 

Rebuilding Britain’s Armed Forces

To deter aggression and protect our national interests, we must ensure our military is properly equipped, resilient, and funded for the modern era. That must include:

• 3.5% Defence Target: Raising core defence spending to 3% of GDP by 2030, and reaching 3.5% on core defence (plus 1.5% for wider security) by 2035 to meet the threats we face as a nation.
   
• £20 Billion in "Defence Bonds": Kickstarting the immediate regeneration of our armed forces by issuing government defence bonds, to be used to rapidly expand UK military capabilities and to invest in defence technology.
   
• Smarter Defence Spending: Ending Whitehall waste and MoD inefficiency by creating a dedicated House of Commons Defence Public Accounts Committee to ensure every pound strengthens frontline capability.
   
• Unwavering Ukraine Support: Maintaining and deepening financial, diplomatic, and military aid to Ukraine to defeat Russian aggression on European soil.
   

Deepening European Defence Partnerships

Britain is a European nation, and our security is inextricably linked to that of our continental neighbours. In an era of unpredictable superpowers, we must build a stronger European pillar within NATO. That means:

• A European Security Council: Proposing a new leadership body to help coordinate European defence manufacturing, streamline military purchasing, and drive industrial efficiency.
   
• Rejoining the Single Market: Seeking access to the EU Single Market to restore growth to the economy and secure greater influence over, and access to, joint European defence funding and capability development.
   
• Capability Pooling & Joint Operations: Deepening military exchange programmes, joint missions, and resource-sharing with EU partners to maximise collective deterrence.
   

Building Whole-of-Society Resilience

Modern security extends far beyond the battlefield - it requires protecting critical infrastructure, supply chains, and domestic democratic institutions from foreign interference and hybrid threats. It requires:

• Creating a Civil Defence Office: Establishing a central body to coordinate whole-of-society resilience against cyberattacks, supply chain shocks, and national emergencies.
   
• A Civil Volunteer Reserve: Establishing a national network of skilled citizens ready to support essential services and national security efforts at short notice.

Defending Multilateralism and the Rules-Based Order 

A stable world relies on shared rules, strong international institutions, and principled diplomacy. In the face of rising authoritarianism, we must champion the international order: 

• Middle-Power Alliances: Working alongside trusted democratic partners like Canada to act as a counterweight against authoritarian regimes.
   
• Governing Frontier Tech: Leading global efforts to establish international standards on AI safety, autonomous weapons, space security, and maritime stability.
   
• Protecting Global Institutions: Defending multilateral bodies, international law, and democratic norms that are vital to Britain’s national security and economic prosperity.

By investing in our defence, reinforcing our European partnerships, and building true domestic resilience, the UK can remain a beacon of democratic stability. Liberal Democrats are ready to defend Britain, protect our allies, and champion the international rules-based order in these turbulent times.