Hansard

Nordic Brigade

Volume 404: debated on Thursday 1 May 2003

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Mr. Breed

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what developments the UK has made in respect of the Nordic Brigade; and if he will make a statement. [109083]

Mr. Hoon

Last year, at the Nordic Defence Ministers' meeting in Alesund, I signed a Letter of Intent that provides the basis for the United Kingdom's co-operation with NORDCAPS (the Nordic Coordinated Arrangement for Military Peace Support). NORDCAPS provides the formal planning and cooperation framework for a possible Nordic Brigade for Peace Support Operations.NORDCAPS builds on the co-operative arrangements that we have enjoyed with our Nordic partners in the Balkans. Our involvement does not commit the United Kingdom to a military contribution to NORDCAPS. We support this initiative in addition to our existing bilateral links with the Nordic countries.