Ahead of Armed Forces Day (Saturday June 27th), Welsh Labour interim leader Ken Skates MS asked the First Minister for assurances on Plaid Cymru’s approach to defence, at a Welsh and international level.
Citing previous comments from Rhun ap Iorwerth stating “I don’t reckon the population of Wales would feel inclined to spend on aircraft carriers”, Ken Skates MS challenged the First Minister if whether “in or out of the UK” he would “like to see Wales as a full member of NATO?”.
The First Minister did not provide a concrete answer.
In 2024, Rhun ap Iorwerth told Channel 4 that his NATO preference for an independent Wales would be in an associate membership role.
Plaid Cymru’s manifesto of the same year stated that they “oppose increasing defence spending.”
Ken Skates MS said: “In a time of increasing global threat, there is a responsibility to invest in keeping Wales safe. It is of the utmost importance that we support our armed forces, that we take our national security seriously and that we are steadfast in standing with our allies.
“Plaid Cymru have been historically negative in their commentary around NATO and defence spending.
Today in the Senedd, I provided the First Minister with an opportunity to clarify his party’s position on NATO. He failed to do so.
In such unsettling times, our armed forces and the Welsh public need clarity.”
Discover more from Carmarthenshire News Online
Subscribe to get the latest posts sent to your email.
