In every generation, the United Kingdom has had to relearn a simple truth: peace is protected by strength, and strength requires investment.
Today, that truth is impossible to ignore. War has returned to Europe, authoritarian states are testing the resolve of democracies, and our adversaries are threatening the maritime routes on which our economy depends. In this new era, defence cannot be treated as a discretionary extra; it is the first duty of government.
But for those of us who believe in the Union, defence spending carries an even deeper significance. It is one of the most practical expressions of what the United Kingdom is and what it can do. The Armed Forces defend every part of our country. The defence industrial base draws on skills from every part of our country. And the benefits of serious, sustained defence investment should be felt in all corners of our country.
That is why the government’s Defence Investment Plan matters so much – but it cannot just be a document of warm words. It must serve as a serious plan for sovereign capability and industrial renewal, and it must recognise the crucial role of Northern Ireland in strengthening the United Kingdom’s defence.
Nowhere is that more evident than in Belfast.
Belfast is home to a remarkable defence and advanced manufacturing base – from Harland & Wolff and Shorts to Airbus and Thales – companies whose skills, people and supply chains matter not only to our local economy, but to the security of the United Kingdom.
Following Navantia UK’s acquisition of Harland & Wolff in January 2025 and the £90 million in investment since, this shipyard is now one of the most capable and modern anywhere in the world. The Belfast yard now has the scale, the workforce and the industrial heritage to contribute meaningfully to the UK’s shipbuilding and defence needs.
That opportunity is now even more immediate. The Defence Investment Plan points to a new generation of Amphibious Ships to support Commando Force operations, with the stated ambition of creating a combined fleet with the Netherlands. That should be seen not only as a naval requirement, but as an industrial opportunity for Northern Ireland and the UK. Belfast’s shipyard helped make the United Kingdom a global maritime power; today, it can help renew the maritime strength we need to fulfil our duties to NATO.
I have long argued that if the United Kingdom is serious about resilience, then it must build resilience across the United Kingdom. That means investment in Belfast as well as Barrow, Rosyth, Govan, Portsmouth and Plymouth. It means recognising that Northern Ireland is not peripheral to UK defence and security- it is integral to it.
People in Northern Ireland serve with distinction in our Armed Forces. Families here understand service and sacrifice. Our businesses contribute to national capability. Yet too often, Northern Ireland is treated as an afterthought in UK-wide strategies. That must change.
After all, the Union is strengthened not only by constitutional argument, but by shared endeavour. When people see that the United Kingdom is investing in their community, valuing their skills and trusting them with work of national importance, the Union becomes tangible. It becomes a job, an apprenticeship, a future.
The economic case is equally clear. Defence contracts support highly skilled, well-paid employment. They sustain apprenticeships, engineering pathways and supply chains. They give young people a reason to build their future at home.
The military case is perhaps the most urgent. The UK is a maritime nation. We rely on secure sea lanes for trade and energy. We need the capacity to build, maintain, repair and support vessels at pace. We need yards with the ability to scale up. We need industrial partners who can deliver.
For companies operating in Northern Ireland, certainty is essential. Harland & Wolff has a bright future if it is given the chance to compete, by delivering ships required under theDefence Investment Plan. It can be part of a stronger UK shipbuilding sector. It can help ensure that sovereign capability is not merely a slogan but a reality. And it can show in practical terms how Northern Ireland contributes to the defence of the nation.
So, my message to the government is clear. Northern Ireland stands ready to play its part. Now the government must play its part too.
