Trevelyan advocates for stronger Royal Navy presence

At the First Sea Lord’s Sea Power Conference held at Lancaster House in London, Minister for the Indo-Pacific Anne-Marie Trevelyan delivered a stirring keynote speech emphasising the critical role of the Royal Navy in maintaining global security and the importance of increased defence spending.

“Thank you to the First Sea Lord and the Council for Geostrategy for bringing us all together once again,” began Trevelyan, acknowledging the significance of the gathering.

The Minister expressed her gratitude to the Royal Navy, stating, “I would like to thank you and all those who serve in the Royal Navy – above and below the surface – for all that you do to keep our citizens and UK interests secure every single day.”

Trevelyan highlighted the Royal Navy’s often-unseen efforts, pointing to recent high-profile operations such as those conducted by HMS Diamond in the Red Sea. “Young men and women aboard HMS Diamond shared the dramatic images of their elimination of drones attacking civilian shipping in the Red Sea,” she said. These actions, she noted, have brought newfound public recognition and pride in the Navy’s continuous deployments.

Trevelyan also praised the collaboration with international partners, highlighting HMS Tamar and HMS Spey’s work in the Indo-Pacific. “Our sailors aboard HMS Tamar and HMS Spey in particular are working with countries in the Indo-Pacific, to build and protect sustainable blue economies,” she said, referring to the UK’s £500 million Blue Planet Fund.

One of the key announcements in Trevelyan’s speech was the government’s commitment to increasing defence spending to 2.5% of GDP. She stressed the need for an integrated procurement model to ensure long-term planning in shipbuilding and the swift introduction of next-generation ships and submarines. “We must now make industry the sixth domain of our defences,” she emphasised.

Addressing global security challenges, Trevelyan remarked on the interconnectedness of foreign and domestic policies. She highlighted the instability in the Middle East, aggression in the Black Sea, and military coercion in the South China Sea as significant threats. “Households everywhere are feeling the pressure of all this on their budgets,” she noted, emphasising the impact on everyday citizens.

Trevelyan outlined the UK’s efforts to support its Indo-Pacific partners through initiatives such as the AUKUS agreement, aimed at developing a nuclear-powered submarine fleet with Australia and the US. She emphasised the strategic importance of this partnership, stating, “Nuclear-powered submarines can travel greater distances, be undetected for longer, and therefore increase the credible deterrence.”

The Minister also discussed the importance of upholding international maritime laws and responding to actions that heighten tensions, specifically pointing to recent incidents in the South China Sea involving Chinese vessels. “We expect all states to uphold UNCLOS,” she stated.

As the speech drew to a close, Trevelyan reiterated the importance of strong alliances and the role of industry in supporting defence efforts. “Governments can and must provide the money and the leadership, but only industry can give us the tools to enable our brave military personnel to deliver that credible deterrence,” she concluded.

Trevelyan’s speech at the First Sea Lord’s Sea Power Conference highlighted the vital role of the Royal Navy in global security and the government’s commitment to enhancing defence capabilities through increased spending and international partnerships.