Week 18 – Remembrance and the USA

Remembrance Day is a time to stop and think, to thank those that served in our armed forces, and those that are currently serving.  I find this very impactful having grown up in an armed forces family.

The First World War saw horrendous losses, and the poppies that grew on the battle fields give us today's symbols of remembrance.  We have lost many people in many conflicts since the First and Second World Wars, including Korea, Ireland, the Falklands, Iraq and Afghanistan.  We must not forget them.

During the Remembrance weekend I was particularly touched by a story I was told of a veteran visiting one of the last remembrance services on a second world war battlefield.  He wanted to visit a site just yards away from the ceremony, in some woods.  He found his way to a now quiet clearing and pointed to what remained of a trench.  

“That’s where my brother and I were in this battle” he said, “and that was where my brother lost his life.”

As we hear at remembrance each year, for our tomorrows, they gave their todays.  

Our today is becoming an increasingly turbulent place.  Right now, we have a war in Ukraine, part of mainland Europe, a war in the Middle East and war and famine in Africa.  In the last 78 years we have gone through some very tense times of conflict and potential conflict and avoided worse.

It is often said that those who ignore history are doomed to repeat it.  With a new UK government and an incoming new administration in America, we will need to tread carefully in a complicated world.

It is starting to look like the UK will not be able to rely on America to perform the role that it has taken in post-war defence.  Our UK forces have been run down and reduced to levels that we haven’t seen for centuries, and our relationship with Europe was shredded by the previous governments.

However, at this time of reset, we do have the opportunity to build our alliances and create opportunities for discussion and a just peace.  A previous US president said of their foreign policy that they should “speak softly and carry a big stick”.

I know that the UK’s diplomatic service, our armed forces and the new government have their work cut out for them.

We must find a way to rapidly boost our defence strength - working closely with our European neighbours must be part of that, if NATO is to see the American inclusion diminish.

History tells us that we don’t win a lasting peace by appeasing a bully.  It also tells us that lasting peace requires negotiation and discussion.  Claiming to stop a war in a day, or anything remotely that rapid is unrealistic and simplistic.

A lasting peace will take some time to find, but we have to work at that whilst keeping an eye on our own defence.

As at the weekend’s remembrance services, in Parliament I will be standing up for veterans, our armed forces, and a peaceful future.