Image Source: UK Government, Crown Copyright
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What Happens Now?
Defence isn’t devolved. Defence policy is decided and set by the UK Government. As the UK is also a NATO member state, certain aspects of defence policy and strategy are decided at the NATO level.
Political responsibility for defence lies with the UK’s Secretary of State for Defence, who heads the UK’s Ministry of Defence (MoD).
As of 20251, the five core and enabling roles for the UK armed forces are:
- To defend, protect, and enhance the resilience of the UK, its Overseas Territories, This includes protecting the UK itself from attack as part of NATO obligations2.
- Deter and defend the Euro-Atlantic region (again as part of NATO), underpinned by nuclear weapons.
- Support the UK’s global interests – particularly in the Middle East and Indo-Pacific regions (though the Euro-Atlantic region is the priority – to counter “growing links between Russia, China, Iran and North Korea”.
- Support innovation and defence industries.
- Maintain an “active presence across the four nations of the Union” to help build national resilience and civil preparedness (presumably this includes things like military aid to civil authorities) and “recruit and retain a workforce that represents the whole of British society”.
The Welsh Government doesn’t play any role in defence policy, though the Welsh Government is responsible for fisheries patrols in Welsh territorial waters (which is the responsibility of the navy in some countries, such as Ireland).
Does This Work for Wales?
The UK’s armed forces are more than capable of carrying out their role as long as they are properly resourced. This indirectly benefits Wales.
In practice, this isn’t a defence policy suited to a country of 3.1 million people. I can’t think of any strategic Welsh interest in, or benefit from, “countering China in the Indo-Pacific” or getting heavily involved in the Middle East.
Even the bit about maintaining a presence across the Union doesn’t quite ring true when it comes to Wales.
Only 1.7% of the British Army is based in Wales (set to increase at some point to 2.4%)3. I’m not sure if that figure includes reservists or not. The only significant air force base is RAF Valley (the RAF’s fast jet training facility), and Wales has no naval bases or stations of note.
There’s a bit more success in terms of the defence sector, with several major sites operated in Wales by major defence contractors and procurement spending in 2021-22 worth £744 million. This is said to support up to 5,400 jobs in the wider supply chain. However, the amount spent on military procurement per head in Wales (£240) was significantly lower than the UK average (£310) at the time.
Military Role & Independence: Pros & Cons
There are no pros and cons as such. Setting a role/”mission statement” for the military or military doctrine is an administrative task and would be closely tied to Wales’ defence and foreign policy more generally.
What Do Other Countries Do?
In summary, the official role of the Irish Defence Forces is4:
- To defend Ireland against armed aggression, based on the security and defence environment (i.e. current military threats).
- Provide aid to the civil power and civil authorities (such as the police).
- Take part in multinational peacekeeping and humanitarian relief missions under UN mandates.
- Maritime security and fisheries protection.
- Ceremonial duties (guards of honour, salutes, state funerals).
Iceland doesn’t have a conventional military, though the Icelandic Coast Guard (officially a law enforcement agency) performs some of the roles expected of a military. These include5:
- Fisheries patrols and maritime security/law enforcement (Iceland won three “Cod Wars” against the UK during the 1970s in a dispute over fishing rights).
- Search and rescue (on land and at sea).
- Operating military bases (mainly used by NATO air forces) and radar stations in Iceland.
- Bomb disposal.
- Maritime surveying.
The Finnish Defence Forces have five legally binding tasks6:
- Military defence of Finland’s land, water and airspace to ensure territorial integrity, provide safe living conditions for the population and to lead military training.
- Taking part in NATO’s collective defence.
- Providing support to national authorities.
- Participating in international aid missions.
- Participating in international crisis management.
The Swiss Constitution7 states that:
“The armed forces serve to prevent war and to maintain peace; they defend the country and its population. They shall support the civilian authorities in safeguarding the country against serious threats to internal security and in dealing with exceptional situations. Further duties may be provided for by law.”
New Zealand law8 states that armed forces can be raised and maintained for (in summary):
- The defence of New Zealand and any area New Zealand is responsible for (i.e. dependent territories).
- Protection of the interests of New Zealand globally.
- Contributing to forces under collective security agreements, treaties or arrangements, including to the United Nations.
- Providing military assistance to the civil power.
- “Provision of any public service”, subject to further provisions in law9.
What Options Does Wales Have?
Most “mission statements” for the militaries of Western democracies are similar to each other. In the case of an independent Wales, it’s likely to boil down to:
- Defending Wales from armed or covert attack on land, sea, air or electronically and maintaining Welsh territorial integrity.
- Fulfilling obligations towards security pacts or military alliances Wales is a part of, including missions under UN mandates and marine protection duties. This would include NATO if an independent Wales joined the alliance.
- Providing military assistance to civil authorities under civil defence and national security arrangements (i.e. emergency management, search and rescue, bomb disposal, counter-terrorism).
- Performing ceremonial duties as and when required.
What's at Stake?
The overall score (out of 20) is the total of the scores for the four mini-categories (out of 5 each).
How Much Will This Cost?
Headline: No direct costs, though the expected role of the Welsh military would help decide how much Wales would spend on defence each year.
There could be further indirect costs. For example, if a Welsh military had an expanded role in civil defence or aiding civil authorities (i.e. activating reserve units during extreme weather), that would need to be budgeted for.
Would any new taxes need to be introduced?
No.
Who will pay for this?
General taxation (all taxpayers).
How Long Would This Take?
This would likely be one of the first things done during early work to establish a Welsh military (or something similar).
People & Work
Setting core goals for the military is unlikely to affect anyone other than the military itself.
In terms of setting a mission statement/set of core goals, there are no direct job implications.
Indirectly, it would help determine things like the defence budget and the size and structure of a Welsh armed forces.
You Might Also Like....
UK Government, Ministry of Defence (2nd June 2025). “Strategic Defence Review 2025” (p39-41).
North Atlantic Treaty (1949), Article 3.
UK Ministry of Defence (2023-24), “Written Evidence submitted to (unspecified) Committee”.
Irish Defence Forces. “What we do”.
Icelandic Coast Guard. “Our Services (English language version)”.
Finnish Defence Forces. “Finland’s Defence (English language version)”.
Federal Constitution of the Swiss Confederation, Article 58, Section 2.
Defence Act 1990, Part 1, Section 5
Defence Act 1990, Part 1, Section 9
No AI tools were used to draft this post.
