International Relations and Defence Committee

8 July 2026

International Relations and Defence Committee Actual start House of Lords

17:01 - 18:56
Speaker 1
Well, good afternoon and Ambassador Bolton, very much welcome you to the International Relations and Defence Committee of the House of Lords.  Thank you for making the time and we will be going straight into questions from various members of the committee. 

We've already sort of allocated specific questions.  On a personal note, you may not recall me, I certainly recall you, having served under both Prime Minister Johnson and Prime Minister May in terms of engagements during that time.  But also in full transparency as well, relevant interests need to be declared at the start.  Whilst I was minister in the previous government, but relevant interests now, I chair an advisory board on the International Communities Organisation.  If I just remind all members when you address the committee and ask Ambassador Bolton your first question, if there are any relevant interests to declare them at that time. 

Welcome once again.  This is, Ambassador Bolton, the sixth evidence session for our inquiry, which is looking at the role of multilateralism. 

But today we very much welcome your perspective on the US role and the future role in the multilateral system that the US, from your perspective, is playing and should be playing.  We've been taking evidence from various people in this regard, and I would also add at this juncture we're of course particularly interested in the UK's role in terms of practical terms going forward.  So welcome your own insights and perspectives in that regard.  Just to share with you that this session is being live-streamed on our parliamentary website and a transcript of the session will be taken.  And once available, there will be a copy sent of the transcript where small corrections, if needed, can be made. 

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