Amphibious ships, NATO commitments, and defence priorities

Air defence, combat aircraft, frigates, and submarines are judged harder to cut because they contribute directly to defending the United Kingdom. Amphibious ships have a different claim on the budget through Britain's alliance commitments. Clarke argues that plans to dispose of Albion and Bulwark overlooked an obligation to reinforce Norway alongside Dutch forces and provide a command ship for the operation. Multinational programmes such as Tempest and AUKUS also tie procurement to partners, industrial work, and shared costs. These are expectations expressed in February 2025 about which commitments would resist cuts, with the Army considered more exposed.