This week's NATO summit will rightly focus on defence spending, industrial capacity and military readiness.

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Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine has transformed Europe's security landscape, reminding governments that military capability can never be taken for granted. From increased Russian naval activity around Britain's waters to Moscow's nuclear forces concentrated in the High North, the Alliance faces real and enduring threats that demand a credible response.

NATO's decision to increase defence spending to 5 per cent of GDP reflects the scale of the security challenges facing the Alliance. Rebuilding Britain's armed forces after decades of underinvestment is essential if we are to deter aggression, reassure allies and protect our national interests.

But military strength, while indispensable, is not the whole of national security. If this summit produces only larger defence budgets without a broader conversation about how security is achieved, it will have addressed only part of the challenge.

I know this because I have seen it from both sides. As a Royal Marine, I understood the importance of military........

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