International Relations and Defence Committee

The International Relations and Defence Committee of the House of Lords scrutinises UK defence and foreign policy, with particular focus on international agreements and strategic partnerships. Operating as a select committee, it regularly takes oral evidence from government officials, policy experts, and international witnesses to examine current challenges. The committee investigates defence capability, intelligence relationships, and the conduct of UK external relations across multiple regions and domains. Recent inquiries have examined US-UK defence ties in the context of Iranian nuclear policy and sanctions, explored implications of US policy towards Venezuela for UK interests, and analysed space cooperation frameworks between the two nations. The committee has also heard from Hudson Institute and German Marshall Fund analysts on the intersection of US national security strategy with British defence priorities, and conducted a dedicated panel inquiry into UK-US intelligence relationship governance. Most recent sessions in mid-2026 continued this examination through further oral evidence gathering on evolving transatlantic security concerns.