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Alistair Carns
LAB✓ Current MP
🏛️ Birmingham Selly Oak
📅 2024–2026
266 speeches on Hansard record
Written Answers
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Ministry of Defence
This remains an extremely challenging and unsettling time for many across the Middle East. The UK condemns Iran’s role in attempting to draw the region into a wider conflict. Our priority is to protect British nationals, British interests and our partners and allies in the Gulf. We support…
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As of 1 January 2026, 22,600 Armed Forces personnel had legacy pension accruals under the Armed Forces Pension Scheme 1975 (AFPS75), and 38,115 had accruals under the Armed Forces Pension Scheme 2005 (AFPS05).
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There has been no change in the number of usable training villages at the Land Regional Hub Germany. Currently, there are five training villages within the Sennelager Training Area, four of which are active training villages, and one which is no longer in use.
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The Ministry of Defence publishes metrics to report total Civil Service headcount, and changes over time biannually and are available on gov.uk. (https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/mod-biannual-civilian-personnel-report-october-2025) The next edition has a provisional release date of 14 May…
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The British Army takes far-right extremism extremely seriously and is fully equipped to act swiftly and decisively where necessary to uphold its high standards. Robust measures are firmly in place to prevent and address any such activity. At present, there are no plans to second homeland security…
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Defence Ministers will continue to proactively engage with colleagues on the ongoing situation in the House, as well as written questions.
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Planning continues at pace, but we will not be drawn into the details of any future UK Armed Forces deployment, including its levels, composition or specific assets, due to the risk to operational security.
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Defence’s workforce structure is regularly reviewed and adjusted according to the threat and capability requirements. This includes the number of senior officers. The future workforce structure and associated workforce plans will be reviewed in conjunction with the Defence Investment Plan.
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As part of routine operational planning, the Ministry of Defence conducts frequent assessments of maritime threats and the activity of other States. To protect operational security and safeguard national defence interests, the results of these assessments are not made public.
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The UK’s Armed Forces are learning much from the war in Ukraine, particularly the need for a much faster ‘learn and adapt’ cycle to accelerate developments in our capabilities, doctrine, and tactics. More broadly, the Strategic Defence Review considered all aspects of Defence,…
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The UK Government regularly assesses the security situation in the region including the Bab el Mandeb Strait. The Department for Transport, supported by the Royal Navy’s UK Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO) organisation, continues to provide UK and Red Ensign flagged shipping with advice on…
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I am withholding the information requested as its disclosure would, or would be likely to, prejudice the capability, effectiveness or security of the Armed Forces.
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I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave to the right. hon Member for Rayleigh and Wickford (Mark Francois MP) on 12 March 2026 to Question number 118155. Written questions and answers - Written questions, answers and statements - UK Parliament
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I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave on 16 March 2026 to Question 119559. Written questions and answers - Written questions, answers and statements - UK Parliament
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You will appreciate the sensitivity of providing operational details that can be exploited by our adversaries. I refer you to the answer I gave on 18 March 2026 to Question 120529.
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There are no plans to reduce equipment holdings at the Global Hub Oman over the next three years.
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The Ministry of Defence can confirm that a drone targeted RAF Akrotiri on 2 March was not launched from Iran. Our best assessment is that it came from Lebanon or Iraq.
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The Secretary of State for Defence has confirmed that former Air Commodore Suzanne ‘Polly’ Miller-Perkins CBE is the preferred candidate for appointment to the role of Armed Forces Commissioner. In line with the Governance Code for Public Appointments, this is to be an interim…
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The Royal Navy (RN) has never held the Flagship role for Standing NATO Maritime Group (SNMG)1 but regularly commits resources to the Group.
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The facility continues to have three usable training villages.
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The Global Hub has three small training villages on Ras Madrakah Training Area.
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There is one permanent training village at Nyati Barracks. In addition, two temporary wooden training villages are currently erected on the training areas at Lolldaiga Conservancy and Ole Naishu estate. These temporary facilities are assembled and dismantled as required and leave no permanent…
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As with all UK contributions to NATO, the UK retains the ultimate authority over their use, including the option to employ them for national operations if necessary. Any such decision would be taken in close consultation and coordination with NATO. The UK’s contribution to the ARF Special…
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We constantly review deployments of Royal Navy assets in line with securing the interests of the UK and our allies. We are continuing to work closely with our allies and partners in the region to mitigate threats to UK shipping. The Strait of Hormuz is a current issue and it would not be…
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The Government is in discussions with the US, and Gulf, European and international partners on what we can do to open up the Strait of Hormuz, restoring freedom of navigation as quickly as possible and ease the economic impact. It would be premature for me to comment on any military planning,…
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A summary of the Government’s overall legal position was published on gov.uk on 1 March 2026. Summary of the UK Government legal position: The legality of defensive action in respect of Iranian regional attacks - GOV.UK
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The Royal Navy continuously reviews the catering provision provided to Service personnel to ensure this meets the standards expected. Recent initiatives have been introduced to further enhance nutrition, consistency, and customer satisfaction. There are currently no plans for the catering provision…
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No, the Ministry of Defence has not been invited to hold discussions with the Government of the Republic of Cyprus regarding the sovereignty of the Sovereign Base Areas on the island of Cyprus.
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The UK's defence relationship with the Republic of Cyprus is multifaceted, underscored by an annual multi-domain bilateral cooperation programme. The activity outlined in this programme continues to increase year-on-year, identifying and exploiting previously unconsidered areas to the benefit of…
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In March 2026, the UK and Ukraine signed an Enhanced Security and Defence Industrial Collaboration Declaration, which will see the UK and Ukraine deepen cooperation in the field of military training and knowledge sharing. This includes the participation of Ukrainian personnel in allied training…
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The UK’s security partnership with Morocco is focused on addressing shared defence and security interests through a programme of bilateral activities, which is developed and agreed on an annual basis. Recent events in the Middle East and North Africa have not altered this approach.
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The table below includes both existing Ministry of Defence (MOD) Civil Servants who commenced an apprenticeship, and those Civil Servants recruited to the MOD as apprentices. It does not include Armed Forces apprenticeships. YearApprentices2022700202380220241,04220251,0632026 (to date)154
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The UK remains committed to supporting Bahrain from Iran's indiscriminate attacks in any way we can. Since 12 March 2026, we have provided Defensive Counter Air support, enabled by the deployment of additional Typhoon aircraft to the region. The Ministry of Defence is meeting its obligations under…
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We do not comment on the detail of such threats for reasons of safeguarding operational security.
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For reasons of operational security, the Ministry of Defence does not give detailed information on past or current levels of readiness for individual Royal Navy warships.
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The Ministry of Defence does not routinely publish procurement quantities for uncrewed systems due to commercial and operational sensitivities.
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I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave to the hon. Member for Huntingdon on 17 March 2026 to Question 118983.HMS Middleton: Strait of Hormuz (docx, 15.5KB)
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Decisions on employment of Ukrainian military assets rests with the Armed Forces of Ukraine. It would therefore not be appropriate for me to comment further on this specific issue.
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The Memorandum of Understanding referenced is an instrument of cooperation between the UK Government and the Government of Ireland. Any decision to publish the document must be taken jointly by both Governments.
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All Ministerial overseas travel is published quarterly online within the Transparency Returns on GOV.UK.
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The Defence Investment Plan will cover investment in infrastructure. It will be published as soon as possible.
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In the interests of operational security of the UK and international partners, we cannot comment on the sharing of data from UK Space Command’s TYCHE satellite with other countries since its launch in August 2024.
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It would not be appropriate to comment on diplomatic discussions.
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Israel procures F-35 directly from the US. This is a matter between the Israeli and US Governments.
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The Royal Navy does not make a direct contribution to Operation ASPIDES.
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As of 18 March 2026, 12 Squadron, operating Typhoon aircraft, is deployed to Qatar. 2 Squadron, operating Typhoon aircraft, and 617 Squadron, operating F-35 aircraft, are deployed to RAF Akrotiri.
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12 Squadron was deployed to Qatar in February 2026 following a formal request from the Qatari Government.
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For reasons of operational security, the Ministry of Defence does not comment on detailed readiness assessments or the timelines associated with specific platform movements.
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We do not comment on deployment decisions for reasons of operational security.
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The Secretary of State for Defence continues to work closely with NATO allies on the sharing of knowledge and insights about drone, missile threats, electronic warfare, innovation, and supply chains. The Secretary of State for Defence continues to work with allies in other regions, where the…
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We cannot comment on the deployment decisions of other nations.
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The pace of Defence's 'learn and adapt' cycle has accelerated exponentially as a result of lessons learnt in Ukraine, and the Strategic Defence Review highlighted the importance of autonomous systems within the UK's integrated force.
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I refer the hon. gentleman to the response given to Question 118648 on 16 March 2026. For operational and personnel security reasons we do not disclose the precise force levels deployed in the South Atlantic.Falkland Islands: Guided Weapons (docx, 15.5KB)
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As the Prime Minister shared on 1 March 2026, the US requested permission to use British bases for specific and limited defensive purposes. The request was accepted to prevent Iran firing missiles across the region. Permissions to utilise UK military bases are considered on a case-by-case basis and…
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On 13 March 2026 the Secretary of State for Defence, and the Irish Minister for Defence, announced the signing of the refreshed UK-Ireland Memorandum of Understanding (MOU). The updated MOU focuses on maritime cooperation, cyber defence, air domain information sharing, and increased joint…
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Russia’s illegal invasion has resulted in Ukraine becoming a world leader in drone and electronic warfare technology. The Secretary of State for Defence has regular discussions with his Ukrainian counterpart on this issue and is delighted that on the 17 March 2026 the UK signed an enhanced…
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The Secretary of State for Defence continues to work closely with the Government of Ukraine on the sharing of knowledge, including insights about drones, missile threats and electronic warfare, whose technologists and armed forces are constantly evolving capabilities to address a variety of threats…
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The Ministry of Defence is currently analysing the origin of the component parts of the munitions used in the attacks on UK Service personnel in Akrotiri and Erbil. We will publish any relevant findings once the investigation has concluded.
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The Ministry of Defence cannot comment on the specifics of chemical importations by the Iranian regime, as doing so could provide an advantage to those who may seek to harm the UK.
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The Ministry of Defence cannot comment on the specifics of the Iranian missile regime, as doing so could provide an advantage to those who may seek to harm the UK.
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The requirement for personal protective equipment, is reviewed based on operational circumstances. For reasons of safeguarding operational security, we will not comment further.
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The MOD does not comment on assessments conducted on the military capabilities of other states for reasons of operational security.
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The Chancellor of the Exchequer has confirmed that the Ministry of Defence has access to the Special Reserve, meaning that the net additional cost of military operations will be funded by the Treasury.
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Forecast spending remains subject to change as operational requirements develop.Final allocations for the current and next financial years will be confirmed at the Supplementary Estimates, with outturn reported in the Department's Annual Report and Accounts in the usual way.
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We do not comment on the details of either submarine operations, or the details of individual assignments of UK Service personnel.
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I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave on 6 March 2026 to Question 119559.NATO: Navy (docx, 15.5KB)
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I refer the hon. Member to the answer given to Question 119557 on 16 March 2026.RAF Wyton: NATO (docx, 15.5KB)
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We do not comment on specific deployments for reasons of safeguarding operational security.
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It is Government policy not to comment on operational security issues, therefore we will not be providing further details on this matter.
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We constantly review deployments of Royal Navy assets in line with securing the interests of the UK and our allies. As the Chief of the Defence Staff said on the BBC on Saturday 7 March, he looked at the proposals for HMS Dragon being deployed to the Middle East on Tuesday 3 March, and the Defence…
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We will not be drawn into the details of any future UK Armed Forces deployment for reasons of operational security.
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RFA Lyme Bay has departed Gibraltar in order to assist in maritime tasks in the Eastern Mediterranean if necessary.
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I refer the hon. Member to the response to Question 119565 provided on 18 March 2026.
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RFA Lyme Bay has sailed from Gibraltar, available for maritime tasks in the region should they be required.
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Using both live flying and realistic synthetic training simulation, Typhoon and F-35B Lightning aircrew continuously train for countering and defeating the full spectrum of airborne threats including drones.
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The Royal Navy manages the availability and readiness of its ships on a rolling basis, ensuring that vessels are deployed only when they are safe, capable, and endorsed for tasking.
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In her statement to the House on 9 March, the Chancellor confirmed that she had approved access for the Ministry of Defence to the special reserve to deploy additional capabilities in the middle east.
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Detail on Operation Firecrest can be found at the following link: https://www.gov.uk/government/news/uk-carrier-strike-group-to-deploy-to-north-atlantic-to-keep-uk-s… I am unable to comment further at this time to do so would compromise the security of our forces and effectiveness of…
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We do not comment on specifics, however, the Government has been increasing the counter-drone capability in Cyprus since January, through the addition of 400 personnel, Typhoon and F-35 jets, air defence missiles, and radar. HMS Dragon is on the way to the region, which will provide additional…
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The device struck a hangar.
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Both the Defence Secretary and Defence Officials remain in regular contact with US counterparts on a range of topics to ensure coherence and alignment between our two nations including operational matters.
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The Ministry of Defence does not comment on the tasks or plans for individual submarines for reasons of national security.
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HMS Dauntless is presently engaged in her Fleet Time Support Period in line with the Royal Navy’s planned maintenance cycle. In accordance with established practice, the Royal Navy does not routinely comment on the detailed operational programme of its vessels
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Detail on Operation Firecrest can be found at the following link: https://www.gov.uk/government/news/uk-carrier-strike-group-to-deploy-to-north-atlantic-to-keep-uk-safe I am unable to comment further at this time to do so would compromise the security of our forces and effectiveness of operations.…
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The Ministry of Defence continually assesses how Ukrainian battlefield innovation can inform the UK's own capabilities. The conflict has shown the need to accelerate the learn-adapt cycle, with concepts moving from design to battlefield use within weeks.The UK is seeking to identify lessons driven…
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As part of its routine responsibilities, the Ministry of Defence conducts assessments of the military capabilities of other states. To protect operational security and safeguard national defence interests, the results of these assessments are not made public.
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While ORCUS+ is not optimised to defeat One-Way Attack UAS, it offers an enhanced ability to detect, track and identify, increasing a kinetic system’s ability to defeat but no system can be 100% effective. This is why our defences in the Eastern Mediterranean now include Typhon and F-35 jets,…
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Over the past five years, the British Army, Royal Marine Commandos, and Royal Air Force have participated in 12 large-scale brigade-level live exercises, alongside multiple multinational training operations.
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As with all Armed Forces equipment capable of delivering lethal effect, the use of Phalanx is governed by strict Rules of Engagement. Internal directives relating to the use of weapons systems are operationally sensitive and are not disclosed.
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As part of its routine responsibilities, the Ministry of Defence conducts assessments of the military capabilities of other states. To protect operational security and safeguard national defence interests, the results of these assessments are not made public.
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I refer the hon. Member to the answer given by my Rt hon. Friend, the Minister for Defence Readiness and Industry (Luke Pollard) to Question 118824.Portsmouth Dockyard: Staff (docx, 15.5KB)
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The Ministry of Defence takes the security of its personnel, facilities, and operations in Ukraine extremely seriously. Specific details of those measures cannot be disclosed, as doing so could compromise operational security and the safety of our personnel.
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The primary mechanism for lessons learnt from Ukraine's battlefield experience is through the Defence Lessons Identified Management System, which facilities their assignment and management.For those of strategic relevance, the Military Commands will route lessons through the newly instituted…
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The United Kingdom remains firmly committed to Estonia as the framework nation for NATO’s forward land forces. The purpose of the Baltic Military Mobility Area (MMA) is to harmonise procedures for the movement of military personnel and equipment across Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania. The…
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The UK is committed to supporting our interests and the interests of our allies in the Gulf region. We collaborate closely with allies and partners to maintain an Expeditionary Mine Warfare capability – this includes the introduction of the latest autonomous mine hunting capabilities.
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The Government continues to review trends in allied demand for specialised anti‑submarine warfare capabilities as part of its assessment of the evolving and growing undersea threat.
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Operation Firecrest is intended to include key allies, including the US, Canada and Joint Expeditionary Force (JEF) nations. We are continuing to refine with our allies the specific capabilities these will contribute to the deployment, although this information is operationally sensitive and…
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As part of its routine responsibilities, UK Defence conducts assessments of the military capabilities of other states including in the Indo-Pacific. To protect operational security and safeguard national defence interests, the results of these assessments are not made public.
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We cannot release any further information on this matter due to operational security reasons.
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This continues to be an extremely challenging and unsettling time for many across the Middle East. The UK condemns Iran’s role in attempting to draw the region into a wider conflict. Our first priority is to protect British nationals, British interests and our partners. We support action that…
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The Resilience Action Plan sets out the Government’s strategic approach to how we will strengthen our domestic resilience and invest to protect the nation. Ministry of Defence officials regularly attend meetings to discuss the implementation of the Resilience Action Plan as well as matters of…
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The size and composition of the Royal Navy are kept under continuous review to ensure the force can meet Defence tasks and operational commitments.
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The Strategic Defence Review sets out recommendations to enhance the readiness, agility and lethality of our armed forces, which will be implemented through the Defence Investment Plan, ensuring our Armed Forces have the capabilities to tackle current and future threats alongside our allies and…
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The Royal Navy is strengthening its warfighting effectiveness by modernising its fleet, investing in its people, and accelerating adaptation to emerging threats. The First Sea Lord has set out his vision of a Hybrid Navy that combines new high‑end capabilities – such as the Type 26 and…
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Defence continues to focus on ensuring its readiness, including for a high-intensity conflict, in line with the recommendations of the Strategic Defence Review (SDR). The SDR is already being implemented, and the Defence Investment Plan will further shape our priorities to ensure we can continue to…
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The Ministry of Defence takes the security of its personnel, facilities, and operations in Ukraine extremely seriously. We do not comment on specific security matters or incidents, as doing so could compromise operational security and the safety of our personnel.
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As announced by the Prime Minister on 1 March 2026, the Government agreed to a US request to use British bases for specific and limited defensive purposes. A summary of the Government’s legal position associated with this authorisation was published at the same time.
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The Ministry of Defence manages its official social media channels under strict Governance and security policies, supported by mandatory training, active monitoring and established incident response processes.
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As the Strategic Defence Review set out, a core role for Defence is the protection of the UK’s overseas territories, which includes maintaining a defensive military posture in the Falkland Islands. We review that posture regularly to ensure it reflects all relevant developments. I am…
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The Ministry of Defence (MOD) keeps its defensive posture in the region under constant review and decisions are made based on operational factors. The deployment of HMS Dragon is in addition to the considerable amount of capability positioned into RAF Akrotiri since January, including hundreds of…
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The Government of the Republic of Cyprus has not made any representations to the Ministry of Defence on the sovereignty of the Sovereign Base Areas of Akrotiri and Dhekelia since 1 March 2026.
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The Royal Navy routinely contributes to NATO's Standing Naval Forces, including Standing NATO Maritime Group 1 (SNMG1), as part of the UK's ongoing commitment to Alliance deterrence and defence. The specific dates of UK deployments are subject to operational planning and security considerations,…
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The UK remains fully committed to NATO and continues to meet its longstanding obligations through close cooperation and collaboration with Allies across the Alliance. This work strengthens collective security and enhances shared situational awareness, from which the UK also benefits.
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Our relationship with the Republic of Cyprus has never been closer. During the Defence Secretary’s visit to the Republic of Cyprus (RoC) on 5 March, he met with Defence Minister Palmas and the Head of the Cypriot National Guard. The Defence Secretary has not held discussions with Defence…
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The Ministry of Defence does not comment on states’ specific capabilities or how we would respond to them, as doing so could provide an operational advantage to those who may seek to harm the UK.
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Operation CROSSWAYS provides military support to Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, primarily focused on training and tailored military advice to the Saudi armed forces. For operational security reasons, we do not comment publicly on exact details around deployments.
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A summary of the Government’s legal position was published on gov.uk on 1 March 2026. This can be found at the followed address: https://www.gov.uk/government/news/summary-of-the-uk-government-legal-position-the-legality-of-defensive-action-in-respect-of-iranian-regional-attacks. Since this…
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As announced by the Prime Minister on 1 March 2026, the Government agreed to a US request to use British bases for specific and limited defensive purposes. The agreement allowing the US to use UK miliary bases is for specific and limited defensive action against missile facilities in Iran
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The Prime Minister has provided an update to Parliament through an oral statement on 2 March 2026.
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The Ministry of Defence regularly discusses regional security, including the security of our Overseas Territories, such as the Pitcairn Islands, with key regional partners including New Zealand and France.
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It is a longstanding position that the Ministry of Defence does not comment on specific intelligence, or information from third party nations, for security reasons.
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In any situation that is developing as rapidly as the situation in the Middle East, new information will become available at short notice to update initial impressions. As we have said consistently, assessment of incidents will always be an ongoing process.
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In addition to the equipment and capabilities stationed at RAF Akrotiri, the Ministry of Defence have added 400 additional personnel, increased air defence radar and missiles since January. We have deployed F-35 and Typhoon aircraft, three Wildcat helicopters and a Merlin helicopter. HMS Dragon has…
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We constantly review deployments of Royal Navy assets in line with securing the interests of the UK and our allies. No formal offer was made by the Royal Navy to deploy a Type 45 Destroyer ahead of HMS Dragon’s deployment at the first available moment on 10 March 2026.
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As the Secretary of State informed the House on 9 March 2026 - the Chief of the Defence Staff reviewed the proposal to deploy HMS Dragon to the Eastern Mediterranean on the 3 March 2026 and the Secretary of State signed it off the same day. Before coming to this decision, discussions were held on…
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We continually assess and utilise the appropriate means of communication to maintain operational security.
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A drone strike on RAF Akrotiri resulted in no injuries or deaths. There have been no other strikes against UK military bases in the region.
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The Department cannot comment on the specific security measures in place at individual sites. However, we can confirm that the Ministry of Defence operates a multi-layered approach designed to deter, detect, and respond to any threat to protect our assets. The deployment of HMS Dragon is in…
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The Department continually assesses a wide range of potential threats to the UK, including hostile activity by state actors. Whilst we do not comment on specific intelligence for security reasons, the UK maintains robust, multi layered defences designed to protect the whole of the UK.
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The Department continually assesses a wide range of potential threats to the UK, including hostile activity by state actors. Whilst we do not comment on specific intelligence for security reasons, the UK maintains robust, multi layered defences designed to protect the whole of the country,…
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The Department continually assesses a wide range of potential threats to the UK and its citizens, including hostile activity by state actors. We do not comment on specific intelligence for security reasons. The deployment of HMS Dragon is in addition to the considerable amount of capability…
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The Ministry of Defence routinely monitors and assesses the capabilities and activities of the Iranian Armed Forces, including its naval assets.
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The United States' operational use of Diego Garcia is governed by an Exchange of Notes between the UK and the USA. The potential use of any UK base or base on UK sovereign territory by foreign military forces for operational purposes is closely considered to ensure that we are content with their…
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Available Royal Navy operational records show no enforcement or detention incidents involving Cuban‑flagged vessels in the past five years.
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The Fleet Ready Escort is undertaken by a Royal Navy warship held at high readiness to respond to tasking as required. For operational security reasons, the Ministry of Defence does not routinely disclose the specific vessel nominated for this role on a given date.
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The US is the UK’s closest defence and security partner. The Secretary of State and his officials are in regular contact with US counterparts on a range of topics to ensure coherence and alignment between our two nations. You would not expect me to go into detail of operational discussions…
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Anti-submarine warfare remains a central and enduring operational priority for the Royal Navy due to the need to protect the UK’s Continuous at Sea Deterrent and to counter the growing undersea threat in the North Atlantic through the Atlantic Bastion concept.
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The Strategic Defence Review 25 clearly sets out how the UK will maintain its Defence and Security, including maritime security. This includes the Defence Secretary’s foreword to the review highlighting investment in the hybrid navy as a priority, and in the context of the changing priorities…
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The People’s Liberation Army (PLA) Navy’s Shuiqiao landing barge is a significant development in China’s amphibious power projection capability. As laid out in last year’s Strategic Defence Review, the UK recognises China's rapid military modernisation and its use of new…
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For operational security reasons, we do not offer comment or information relating to foreign nation’s military operations. Permissions to utilise UK military bases are considered on a case-by-case basis and the decision to grant permission is dependent on the nature and purpose of their…
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Within the Atlantic Bastion concept, Royal Navy general‑purpose frigates will continue to play an important role in providing maritime presence, patrol, escort and reassurance tasks, while also acting as flexible platforms able to integrate with uncrewed systems. The exact pace and scale of…
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The Type 26 programme will deliver eight anti-submarine warfare frigates for the Royal Navy, which are designed primarily for operations in the North Atlantic and will form a core component of the Atlantic Bastion concept.
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The drone that struck RAF Akrotiri on 2 March 2026 did strike a hangar causing minimal damage.
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The accreditations in question, whilst aligned to the Defence cyber skillsets, are not formal Ministry of Defence qualifications. The information is not therefore held centrally and could only be provided at disproportionate cost.
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UK bases were not involved in the initial strikes on Iran. Permissions to utilise UK military bases are considered on a case-by-case basis and the decision to grant permission is dependent on the nature and purpose of their activity.
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The Defence Secretary strongly recognises the strategic importance Cyprus provides to the UK and its allies, with discussions regarding capability deployments in the region being seen as a priority for our operational interests and broader security cooperation.
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The UK and Poland will engage in joint training which will include a mix of live training and Digital Synthetic elements to maximise the benefits to both nations’ service personnel.
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I responded to the hon. Member on 10 March 2026.
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ECW training is conducted as required to support operational and exercise commitments, particularly in the High North. The RAF regularly train and operate alongside NATO allies and Nordic partners in extreme cold environments.
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Training pathways for the use of small Uncrewed Air Systems (sUAS) are expanding rapidly as the Army continues to build skills in robotics and autonomous systems, informed by lessons learned from Ukraine. Centralised sUAS training delivered by the Land Warfare Centre has been in development for…
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The agreement allowing the US to use UK miliary bases is for specific and limited defensive action against missile facilities in Iran which were involved in launching strikes at regional allies. For operational security reasons, we do not offer comment or information relating to foreign nations'…
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Permissions to utilise UK military bases by foreign nations are considered on a case-by-case basis. All UK support to allies for operational purposes considers the legal basis and policy rationale for any proposed activity. The agreement allowing the US to use UK miliary bases is for specific and…
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The UK’s commitment to NATO is unshakeable and we continue to reinforce our role as the leading European nation in the alliance.
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No British military personnel were involved in the planning for the US attack on Iran. It is the longstanding policy of successive Governments that we do not comment on intelligence matters.
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The Land Regional Hub Oman has transitioned into the Global Hub Oman (GHO) providing Land, Sea and Air capabilities. As at October 2025 (latest figures available), the numbers of Service personnel currently stationed at the Hub on a permanent basis were less than five, as shown below: Number of UK…
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As stated by the Prime Minister on 5 March 2026, RAF aircraft continue to conduct defensive operations in the region. At this time, we will not comment further due to operational security.
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I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave on 9 March 2026 to Question 115467.NATO: Navy (docx, 15.4KB)
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All of the data provided in this response is as at 31 October 2025 as this is the latest data available. There are currently 310 Regular Service personnel stationed at the ‘Land Regional Hub’ in Germany. The numbers of Regular service personnel stationed permanently at the ‘Land…
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Live Firing exercises that took place at the Land Regional Hub Germany over the last ten years are recorded by calendar year rather than financial year. The number of Live Firing exercises that all took place on the Sennelager Training area in each of the last 10 year are as follows: Training…
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The Army continually reviews equipment allocations to ensure training needs are met. For operational security reasons, we do not release details of equipment holdings, changes in quantities, or future allocations at specific locations, including the Land Regional Hub Germany.
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The Land Regional Hub Oman has transitioned into the Global Hub Oman (GHO) providing Land, Sea and Air capabilities. For operational security reasons, we do not release details of equipment holdings, changes in quantities, or future allocations at specific locations.
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The Land Regional Hub Oman has transitioned into the Global Hub Oman (GHO) providing Land, Sea and Air capabilities. The Land Training Area: Ras Madrakah Training Area, is part of GHO’s capabilities. The following table provides the number of live firing exercises conducted on Ras Madrakah…
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As the Chief of Defence Staff has said, following Iran’s reckless retaliation, recommended last Tuesday that HMS Dragon should be deployed. Ministers then signed this off immediately. HMS Dragon will be armed with the necessary available capabilities to meet the operational need and will…
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The next full capability review will occur within NATO’s current four-year NDPP cycle, which runs until 2027.
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The Government is unstinting in its admiration and gratitude for our Armed Forces. We expect the highest standards of our Service personnel and they serve with great distinction. We rightly hold them to account when they fall short. We are committed to supporting our people who act reasonably and…
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The Government has engaged closely with a wide range of military stakeholders in relation to the Troubles Bill to ensure that the Northern Ireland Troubles Bill effectively supports veterans. This has involved meeting with veterans and current serving members of the Armed Forces whose service took…
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No.2 Force Protection Counter-Uncrewed Aerial Systems Wing was deployed to the Sovereign Base Area of Akrotiri before the drone attack on RAF Akrotiri on 2 March 2026.
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The Ministry of Defence works closely with the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office to ensure that preparedness plans are in place in the case of a natural disaster impacting the Overseas Territories in the Caribbean, including Anguilla.
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The Standing Naval Forces are under the control of NATO Allied Maritime Command which responds to Allied Command Operations. This multinational, integrated force is continuously available for tasking, ranging from NATO missions to exercise participation.
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I responded to the right hon. Member on 4 March 2026.
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As at October 2025 (latest available figure) there were 200 UK Regular1 Armed Forces Service personnel permanently stationed2 at the British Army Training Unit Kenya (BATUK3). Notes/CaveatsUK Regulars comprise full time service personnel, including Nursing Services, but excluding Full Time Reserve…
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The Army continually reviews equipment allocations to ensure training needs are met. For operational security reasons, we do not release details of equipment holdings, changes in quantities, or future allocations at specific locations, including the British Army Training Unit Kenya.
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Data on UK defence exports is published annually by UK Defence and Security Exports (UK DSE), now National Armaments Directorate (NAD). They present export figures only at regional level, with no disaggregated data available for Ireland specifically.
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Since 2017, a total of 158 members of the Irish Defence Forces have undertaken training on UK Ministry of Dfence-run courses. All costs have been fully funded by Ireland, including course fees and associated expenses.
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The UK and Ireland work closely together on shared security challenges, but the UK does not provide defence cover for Ireland, nor does it deploy security assets to protect Irish subsea infrastructure. The Ministry of Defence has not received any requests from Ireland for security support during…
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The number of live firing exercises, by financial year (FY), are below: FY 2015/16FY 2016/17FY 2017/18FY 2018/19FY 2019/20FY 2020/21FY 2021/22FY 2022/23FY 2023/24FY 2024/251254412231
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We are providing non‑essential personnel and their families with supported temporary accommodation elsewhere on the island of Cyprus. For essential personnel who remain on site, our force protection measures are maintained at the highest level. Throughout January and February, we were moving…
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We put in place significant defensive measures between January and February including F35 and Typhoon aircraft, additional radar systems and counter-drone systems. In light of the increasingly indiscriminate and reckless Iranian attacks we are moving quickly to further reinforce our defensive…
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The United Kingdom remains concerned over the indiscriminate attacks from Iran across the region, which are putting British nationals at risk. The safety of British personnel and citizens will always be the government's top priority, and we have therefore taken all necessary measures to ensure they…
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The US is the UK’s principal defence and security partner. The Secretary of State and his officials are in regular contact with US counterparts on a range of topics to ensure coherence and alignment between our two nations. As announced by the Prime Minister on 1 March, the Government agreed…
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The Secretary of State for Defence has regular discussions with officials, external experts and Ministerial colleagues on a range of issues, including national security, defence and resilience. The Home Defence Programme was established in August 2024 to build the UK's resilience to any potential…
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The United Kingdom will assume leadership of NATO’s Allied Reaction Force (ARF) Special Operations Component from July 2026 to June 2027. As part of this commitment, the UK is providing the Special Operations Component Command headquarters, responsible for commanding multinational Special…
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The UK’s nuclear policy, most recently outlined in the 2025 Strategic Defence Review, remains unchanged. The UK does not believe China’s No First Use policy is credible. It is extremely unlikely that in extreme circumstances a state in possession of nuclear weapons would not be willing…
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Within the Armed Forces there are two levels of parachute specialisation: Low Level Para and High Altitude Para.
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The UK is fully committed to NATO’s broader deterrence posture in the Baltic region, demonstrated through our significant contributions across air, maritime, and land domains. This includes our Forward Land Force commitment in Estonia, regular participation in NATO exercises, and involvement…
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As detailed planning continues, we will not be drawn into the details of any future UK Armed Forces deployment, due to operational reasons.
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The Royal Navy (RN) has maintained an under‑ice capability centred on the Submarine Service through Swiftsure and Trafalgar class submarines and is certifying the new Astute Class to uphold this capability.HMS Trenchant conducted the last Ice Exercise in 2018. It is the longstanding policy of…
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There are no active training villages on the British Army Training Unit Suffield Training Area. There were also none in use on 5 July 2024. Please see the table below, which confirms how many live firing exercises have taken place at the British Army Training Unit Suffield in each of the previous…
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We continue to develop interoperability between 16 Air Assault Brigade, the 82nd Airborne Division and the French 11e Brigade Parachutiste. These links are strong and will continue to be demonstrated during 2026. 16 Air Assault Brigade will participate in the 82nd Airborne Division’s…
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Alongside the FCDO and other Government Departments, we continue to monitor the security situation in the Caribbean and undertake regular assessments of the requirements for Defence support to those Overseas Territories.
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His Majesty's Government has noted the withdrawal of Finland, Estonia and Poland from the Ottawa Convention. The UK acknowledges and shares concerns about the security environment in the region as a result of Russia’s illegal invasion of Ukraine. We also acknowledge that it is the sovereign…
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As at October 2025 (latest figures available), the numbers of service personnel currently stationed at British Army Training Unit Suffield are below: Number of UK Regular1 Armed Forces Service Personnel Stationed2 at BATUS3, Suffield, Canada as at 1 October 25 YearOctober-2025Regulars30 NotesUK…
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The Army’s contribution to the Global Response Force is the Air Manoeuvre Task Force (AMTF). The AMTF is comprised of force elements from 16 Air Assault Brigade Combat Team (16 AABCT), a task dependent Task Force formed from 1 Aviation Brigade, and specialist capabilities drawn from across…
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For operational security reasons, we do not offer comment or information relating to foreign nations’ military operations. Permissions to utilise UK military bases are considered on a case-by-case basis and the decision to grant permission is dependent on the nature and purpose of their…
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The United States requested permission to use British bases for the limited, defensive purpose of preventing Iranian missiles from killing civilians, British nationals, or our allies in countries that played no part in the initial strike. Permissions to utilise UK military bases are considered on a…
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The Strategic Defence Review position on military parachuting capabilities represents no change to the current Defence parachuting provision. Therefore, there is no anticipated change to the number of All Arms Pre-Parachute Selection courses or the Basic Parachute Course.
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The Land Regional Hub in Germany is a vital asset for the British Army, providing a forward-deployed presence to support NATO's collective defence and enabling rapid responses to potential threats in Europe. It serves as a key logistics and operational hub, supporting training, exercises, and…
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The Royal Navy maintains a range of personnel exchange and liaison arrangements with European partners through bilateral relationships and NATO activity, supporting interoperability and professional development. These arrangements are reviewed routinely.
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The Home Office, through the Border Security Command, is the lead Government Department responsible for tackling illegal migration and people‑smuggling in the English Channel. His Majesty’s Coastguard is responsible for search and rescue at sea. Their responses to the issue of small…
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Yes. The aircraft were granted overflight of the relevant Flight Information Regions, as designated by the International Civil Aviation Organisation, under routine Diplomatic Flight Clearance procedures. The Ministry of Defence also had permission from the Palestinian Authority for overflight of…
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