Tag: Foreign Office

The press release issued by the Foreign Office on 5 December 2023.

UK announces £15m to help support survivors of sexual and gender-based violence in Somalia.

• UK funding to Gaashaan project will support survivors of sexual and gender-based violence in Somalia.
• £15 million of funding announced during the 16 Days of Activism Against Gender Based Violence will empower communities to work to end sexual and gender based violence and tackle child protection concerns.

To mark the 16 Days of Activism Against Gender Based Violence, the British Embassy Mogadishu last week announced the launch of Gaashaan, a £15 million project to help support survivors of sexual and gender-based violence.

The Gaashaan project (which in Somali means “shield”), will reach over 117,000 people, offering improved access to specialised protection services for communities in Somalia impacted by El Niño. It will also work to empower communities, working with them to prevent sexual and gender-based violence and other forms of violence impacting women and children. The project will also help tackle child protection concerns, all of which are compounded and increased by conflict and climate change occurrences.

Speaking at the time of the launch, Development Director, British Embassy Mogadishu, Damon Bristow, said:

This is another important milestone to address gender based violence and the harm it causes. It also shows UK’s continued commitment to support Somali women and girls so they can reach their full potential.

In the first six months, the project will respond to the impacts of El Niño, aiming to reach about 5,000 women and children directly impacted by severe flooding in Somalia.

The project will run for five years and will be delivered by a consortium of six partners led by Save the Children working alongside the International Rescue Committee, CARE International and four National NGOs: Save Somali Women and Children (SSWC), Somali Women and Development Centre (SWDC), Somali Women’s Studies Centre (SWSC) and Gargaar Relief and Development Organisation (GREDO).

Khadra Jama, Director, Gaashaan Consortium, said in a statement:

Somali women and children face numerous challenges including a protracted security situation in the country coupled with the impact of climate change in Somalia. The United Kingdom’s support comes as Somalia needs it most, as millions of Somalis have been displaced due to flooding.

We are grateful to the British Embassy for providing Somali women and children, along with other vulnerable groups, with much needed and timely support.

Women and children are the ones who suffer the most during humanitarian crises like El Niño and this assistance will give them immediate protection and support.

The press release issued by the Foreign Office on 5 December 2023.

The British Embassy Mogadishu announces almost $7 million to support the humanitarian response to El Niño in Somalia.

• British Embassy Mogadishu announces £5.5 million of humanitarian funding for El Niño response in Somalia.
• UK support will provide vital health, nutrition, water and sanitation to some of Somalia’s most vulnerable flood-affected communities.
• The UK has also announced £7.4 million drought insurance protection for Somalia.

The British Embassy Mogadishu has announced almost $7 million (£5.5 million) of additional funding to support the ongoing humanitarian response to El Niño in Somalia.

In the last month, heavy rains and flooding in parts the country have impacted over two million Somalis, with more than 700,000 people displaced from their homes.

This much needed additional humanitarian assistance will offer life-saving support to those affected by the floods including food security assistance, health, nutrition and water, hygiene and sanitation. The heavy rains and flooding in Somalia come after two years of protracted drought and associated humanitarian impacts.

The new humanitarian funding comes as the UK announced £100 million of support to countries vulnerable to the impacts of climate change, at COP28 on 3 December. This included £7.4 million to support the Federal Government of Somalia’s access to drought response insurance cover over the next three years through African Risk Capacity (ARC), which will provide rapid payouts to vulnerable communities if rains fail.

Speaking about the innovative drought insurance cover, Minister of State for Development and Africa, Andrew Mitchell, said:

Somalia faces one of the worst humanitarian crises in the world, with the devastating effects of climate change hitting the most vulnerable the hardest. Extreme weather can be catastrophic – and it’s vital that Somali communities are protected and prepared.

This funding will provide rapid and targeted support where it is needed most, if rainy seasons fail over the next three years. This long-term approach will help Somalia to better plan and prepare for the risk of drought, part of the commitment by the UK and its partners to build climate resilience across the continent.

This support extends a ground-breaking partnership with the Africa Development Bank which brings innovative new crisis financing mechanisms to Somalia for faster responses to save lives.

Recognising the urgency of the challenges posed by climate change, which forces 26 million into poverty every year, the UK also joined calls at COP28 for bolder collective action to protect the lives, health and livelihoods of those most impacted by climate change.

UK Development Director to Somalia, Damon Bristow, said:

As Member States meet in Dubai at COP28, El Niño flooding in Somalia is a stark reminder of the impacts of climate change today on vulnerable countries. If global temperatures continue to rise, countries like Somalia will continue to experience more frequent weather extremes with disastrous human impacts without affected adaptation.

This new funding announcement will be crucial to ensure affected communities are reached with timely support. We have committed to support prevention measures as well the response to the crisis.

Notes to editors:

• You can follow UK activity in Somalia on Twitter/X and Facebook (@UKinSomalia) or at www.gov.uk/world/somalia/news
• UK humanitarian support to Somalia for 2023 and 2024 now stands at £53.5 million. In May 2023, the UK Minister for Africa announced £48 million of humanitarian funding in response to the effects of climate change. Read more: UK pledges support for over a million people in East Africa – GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)
• During the UK-hosted Global Food Security Summit, the UK announced up to £100 million in humanitarian funding to countries worst impacted by food insecurity, including Somalia: UK summit to boost food security through science and innovation – GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)
• The UK announced £100 million to support vulnerable countries tackling climate change on 3 December 2023 at COP28. Read more: £100m for vulnerable countries tackling climate change – GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)

The press release issued by the Foreign Office on 5 December 2023.

Ms Alexandra McKenzie has been appointed British High Commissioner to Brunei Darussalam in succession to Mr John Virgoe.

Ms Alexandra McKenzie has been appointed British High Commissioner to Brunei Darussalam in succession to Mr John Virgoe who will be transferring to another Diplomatic Service appointment. Ms McKenzie will take up her appointment during August 2024.

Curriculum Vitae

Full name: Alexandra McKenzie

Place of birth: California, USA

Marital Status: Married, with three children

Year	Role
June 2022 to present	Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA), Deputy Director for Northern Ireland Policy
Jan to May 2022	DEFRA, Deputy Director Water, Flood and CBRN Emergencies
2020 to 2021	Bangkok, Deputy Head of Mission
2015 to 2020	Singapore, Deputy Head of Mission
2013 to 2015	FCO, Southeast Asia Department, Deputy Head
2009 to 2013	Berlin, First Secretary, Foreign & Security Policy
2007 to 2008	Paris, First Secretary Political
2004 to 2006	Beijing, Head of Communications and Media
2003 to 2004	FCO and Beijing University. Full-time Mandarin language training
2001 to 2002	FCO, EU Enlargement Desk Officer

The press release issued by the Foreign Office on 5 December 2023.

Flagship UK-Kenya COP27 climate projects have reached milestone achievements ahead of COP28 as UK supports new Africa Green Industrialisation Initiative.

• UK and Kenya have progressed transport, geothermal and agriculture projects agreed at COP27
• The UK has helped design President Ruto’s green industrialisation initiative
• UK will also invest KES 1 billion ($7.1m) million for solar powered irrigation and 100 electric buses

Flagship climate projects fast-tracked at COP27 between the UK and Kenya have reached milestone achievements ahead of COP28 with multiple projects making progress since last year’s climate summit.

The UK has also supported the design and development of President Ruto’s new industrialisation initiative for Africa – the Africa Green Industrialisation Initiative (AGII). The projects support this initiative by creating jobs, increasing economic growth and boosting trade.

The KES 12.5 billion Menengai Geothermal project – which will generate 35MW of electricity, providing approximately 750,000 Kenyans with affordable, clean energy and create 200 jobs during construction, is proceeding to financial close with construction expected to begin shortly after.

A KES 31 billion agreement has also been reached with the Kenyan Development Corporation and UK-funded investor United Green to establish an area bigger than Nairobi National Park for climate-smart farming – this will save Kenya $200m annually on food imports and help reduce Kenya’s trade deficit.

These are the latest developments for the six deals agreed between President Ruto and Prime Minister Sunak at COP27 – which total over KES 500 billion of investment. Exactly one month after the 2022 summit in Egypt, construction began at Nairobi Railway City – a green, urban regeneration project centred around a new railway station in Nairobi. Ground was broken at Menengai Geothermal in June of this year, and the United Green-KDC agreement becomes the latest milestone.

These investments are flagship projects of the UK-Kenya Strategic Partnership – an ambitious five-year agreement which is unlocking mutual benefits for the UK and Kenya – and do not load Kenya with unsustainable debt.

British International Investment will also announce KES 1 billion ($7.1m) for two projects in Kenya, as part of a wider package of investment in Africa.

KES 321 million ($2.1m) will provide solar-powered and water-efficient irrigation systems to 9,000 farmers in Kenya, which will help to increase farmers income as well as build their resilience and adapt to the impact of climate change. The upfront cost of the irrigation systems will also be reduced by 25-40% through an innovative carbon credit facility, making the systems more affordable for farmers.

KES 765 million ($5m) will go towards the manufacture of 100 electric buses – in Kenya – that will meet Kenyan’s demand for affordable but clean public transport. As they replace diesel powered polluters, they will stop 5,000 tonnes of CO2 entering the atmosphere every year.

British High Commissioner to Kenya, Neil Wigan, said:

It is a sign of the strength of the UK-Kenya Strategic Partnership that these three projects have reached new milestones by COP28. The UK and Kenya are going far and going together. We are proud to support the President’s AGII. Combined with these investments from British International Investment, the UK and Kenya will deliver what Kenya’s people want – growth, jobs and trade – in a way that is sustainable and protects our planet”.

The press release issued by the Foreign Office on 5 December 2023.

At COP28 in Dubai, the Government of the Philippines unveiled the first Philippines’ National Adaptation Plan to build the country’s resilience to climate change. This historic initiative has been developed through a Philippines-UK collaboration under British Investment Partnerships.

The Philippines’ NAP sets the direction for the country’s adaptation priorities and identifies opportunities to mobilise investment towards these. Through British Investment Partnerships, the UK has delivered £600,000 of technical assistance through Boston Consulting Group to support the Philippines in formulating the NAP.

Welcoming the NAP, British Ambassador to the Philippines, Laure Beaufils, said:

I’m delighted that the UK has partnered with the Philippines to support the development of the country’s first NAP. The NAP is an essential tool that enables the Philippines to set out key policies, actions, and targets that it will pursue to adapt to the unavoidable consequences of climate change. This document is also an important step in enabling the Philippines to attract and deploy both public and private finance that support adaptation priorities.

The NAP process has used cutting-edge climate analytics to estimate the future impacts and cost of climate change in the Philippines. In August 2023, the Department of Environment and Natural Resources and the Climate Change Commission, together with the UK, conducted a series of multi-stakeholder consultations for the NAP, attended by government and agencies, NGOs, CSOs, the private sector, and international development partners to gather inputs to inform sector-specific strategies.

The NAP provides a strong market signal for priority investment sectors in the coming years and offers a blueprint to guide the work of international partners operating in the Philippines.

The Philippines is one of the most climate vulnerable countries globally. The World Risk Index has identified it as the country facing the highest climate and disaster risk in the world. In response, the NAP identifies priority sectors including: agriculture and food security, water, health, ecosystems and biodiversity, land use and human settlements and displacements, livelihood and industries, and critical energy, transport and communication infrastructure. To ensure effective implementation, the NAP also outlines the key enablers, including governance, skills and capacity development, data and knowledge infrastructure, technology and innovation, adaptation financing, and stakeholder engagement.

Notes to Editors

About British Investment Partnerships

• British Investment Partnerships brings together a range of financial instruments and expertise to help incentivise investment into developing countries. Our work through BIP represents the UK’s contribution to the G7 Partnership for Global Infrastructure and Investment.

The press release issued by the Foreign Office on 4 December 2023.

The UK delivered a statement during Turkmenistan’s Universal Periodic Review at the Human Rights Council on 6 November 2023.

Thank you, Madam Vice-President,

The United Kingdom welcomes steps taken by Turkmenistan in recent months to allow entry to an International Labour Organization (ILO) mission to examine forced labour in the cotton harvest, though we note the allegations of continued use of state-sponsored forced labour in the annual cotton harvest. We strongly urge the government to take action on allegations of torture, and restrictions on freedom of religion, or belief, assembly and expression.

The UK remains concerned over enforced disappearances, access to information for citizens and gender-based violence. Many of the recommendations which Turkmenistan supported during its last UPR cycle, including those concerning the signature of the Rome Statute and the Optional Protocol to the Convention against Torture, have not been carried out

We recommend Turkmenistan:

1. Sign and ratify the United Nations Optional Protocol to the Convention against Torture.
2. Introduce legislation which prohibits the use of forced labour and establishes preventative mechanisms and appropriate oversight structures, working closely with the ILO.
3. Remove restrictions on freedom of expression and assembly, and on access to information.

Thank you.

The press release issued by the Department for Culture, Media and Sport on 4 December 2023.

Arts & Heritage Minister Lord Parkinson address the International Cultural Diplomacy Forum held by the Ukrainian Institute at the British Library.

Good morning. It is a great pleasure to welcome you to the British Library today on behalf of His Majesty’s Government, and my thanks to the Ukrainian Institute for organising such an important and I hope stimulating event today.

Let me start by underlining the UK’s continued horror at Russia’s ongoing aggression, and its terrible impact in Ukraine. Thousands of people have been killed or displaced and precious infrastructure and heritage have been destroyed with a brutality which shocked the whole world.

The attempted desecration of Ukrainian cultural heritage must not be overlooked. UNESCO has verified damage to more than 330 sites since February last year, a figure which includes libraries, museums, religious sites, and so many other places, which people in Ukraine and far beyond hold dear. Ukrainian culture and language has been deliberately and cynically targeted in this war.

The United Kingdom continues to stand shoulder to shoulder in the face of this terrible aggression. British families have been quick to welcome Ukrainian refugees displaced by Russia’s violence. Audiences across this country have been delighted to hear the National Symphony Orchestra of Ukraine when they toured earlier this summer and the UK particularly the city of Liverpool was honoured to host Eurovision, a focal moment for cultural diplomacy as well as a fun event on behalf of our friends in Ukraine to make sure that Ukrainian culture was at the centre of the global stage as it deserves to be.

Here at the British Library the team have been doing their own great work to support their colleagues in Ukraine alongside the delegation of Ukrainian librarians, which Dame Carol has just mentioned, which was welcomed earlier this year. The library curated a display about the Ukrainian poet, writer and artist Taras Shevchenko, considered the founder of modern Ukrainian literature.

It also had the pleasure of hosting Olena Zelenska the first lady of Ukraine alongside Akshata Murty the wife of our own Prime Minister for the launch of the Ukrainian Bookshelf Project in partnership with the Embassy of Ukraine that saw the donation of hundreds of Ukrainian books to the British Library so that they can be read and enjoyed by people throughout the United Kingdom for generations to come.

I was struck by the words that we heard at the opening, which reading is such a solace, in times of challenge and it’s heartening to hear that people may be reading the same books during this week and weeks to come. That project, the Ukrainian bookshelf project, is just one of many examples organised by our cultural bodies across the country which stand testament to the widespread and unwavering support for Ukraine from every corner of the United Kingdom.

In good times, as well as bad cultural diplomacy plays a pivotal role in increasing understanding cooperation and peaceful relations between nations. We’re all enriched by the sharing of cultural heritage, art, literature, music, and so much more, which forge lasting connections between people and between nations.

This summer I was very lucky to visit Delhi and Varanasi attending the meeting of G20 cultural ministers hosted by the government of India where I and other Ministers were clear in our condemnation of Russia’s actions in Ukraine. The discussions that we had in that meeting and the cultural programme which accompanied it were wonderful examples of the power of art and creativity to develop connections between people and I look forward to continuing those discussions during the Brazilian presidency of the G20 next year.

The British Council which is the UK’s cultural relations organisation helps us to maintain and deepen our relationships with other nations across the globe.

We’ve heard mentioned already the brilliant UK Ukraine season of culture, which we’ve celebrated over the past couple of years and I look forward to the forthcoming seasons with Kenya and Vietnam, and all that we’ll be able to enjoy and learn from each other during those. I’m glad that the discussions that you’ve got planned today will cover how we can use all of the opportunities of the modern age, including digital diplomacy, to foster cultural relations, and global collaboration.

Cultural diplomacy is a powerful tool for building bridges promoting peace and connecting people through our shared interests and values. Using it to foster a sense of our common humanity is perhaps now more important than ever. So thank you very much again for organising these important discussions today. And thank you for the opportunity to be here with you Slava Ukraini.

The press release issued by the Foreign Office on 4 December 2023.

Statement by UK Political Coordinator Fergus Eckersley at the UN Security Council meeting on Iraq.

Thank you President. I would like to thank the Special Adviser for his latest report and for all the work of the UNITAD team. The United Kingdom continues to value UNITAD’s important contribution to holding members of Daesh accountable for their appalling crimes.

We welcome the progress that UNITAD has made since the last briefing. As we’ve heard, it has concluded reports on two critical issues: sexual violence against women and girls, and the development and use of chemical weapons by Daesh. It has delivered 80 field missions and digitised a further five million records.

And we welcome UNITAD’s important capacity-building work including training on witness protection and victim-centred approaches to evidence collection, as well as supporting mass grave excavations.

All of this is vital to bringing justice and accountability for victims and survivors while supporting the Iraqi government in its modernisation of judicial processes and of investigatory work.

We strongly encourage UNITAD and the Government of Iraq to find a way forward for third party evidence sharing, as this Council requested in resolution 2697, which is so critical to ensuring members of Daesh cannot escape impunity by fleeing abroad.

We also encourage UNITAD to continue working with the Iraqi authorities to improve evidence sharing and to plan for the future. However, we do recognise the sharing of sensitive evidence is not straightforward, as it is often subject to, among other things, the consent of witnesses.

We hope the upcoming report of the Secretary-General will provide clarity on these matters so that the Council and Iraq can properly understand what evidence has been and can be shared, and how the Council, UNITAD, and the Government of Iraq could make further progress on this. It is critical that the evidence collected by UNITAD continues to be available for prosecutions of international crimes.

President, we all agree here on the importance of accountability for Daesh’s crimes. We owe that to the victims as the Special Adviser has said.

For our part, the United Kingdom is committed to working closely with the government of Iraq and the United Nations to ensure UNITAD’s unique work is used effectively both in Iraq and around the world.

We are grateful to the Special Adviser and his Team for their dedicated efforts in pursuit of accountability. And we stand firm in our continued international efforts to deliver justice for Daesh’s atrocities.

Thank you.

The press release issued by the Foreign Office on 4 December 2023.

At COP28, G7+ countries and Ukraine launched the Clean Energy Partnership, to support the sustainable recovery and reconstruction of Ukraine.

Last winter, Ukraine survived the months-long onslaught of Russian attacks on its integrated energy system, thanks to the brave efforts of the Government of Ukraine, Ministry of Energy, energy companies and the Ukrainian people, and with support from the international community. As Russia continues its unrelenting attacks on energy infrastructure, we, the members of the G7+ Coordination Group in support of Ukraine’s energy system and the Government of Ukraine continue to firmly condemn Russia’s actions and demand that all those implicated in these attacks be held responsible. We commit to continue to support Ukraine with significant emergency assistance to help repair and stabilise the energy grid and prepare for this winter. Over €300 million in funding has been provided to the Energy Community’s Ukraine Energy Support Fund for the restoration and protection of Ukraine’s critically damaged energy infrastructure. Members of this group are also supporting the provision and procurement of a least 65 high voltage autotransformers and 6 mobile gas turbine generators so far. We will continue to stand with Ukraine in the face of Russian attacks, and in their aftermath.

At the June 2023 Ukraine Recovery Conference in London, this group committed to develop a Clean Energy Partnership to support the sustainable recovery and reconstruction of Ukraine.

At COP28, we are pleased to formally launch the new, expanded Clean Energy Partnership, in recognition of Ukraine’s recent progress on key reforms in the energy sector, and significant investments from international partners in Ukraine’s clean energy future.

This Partnership brings together the Government of Ukraine, bilateral donors, key international organisations and financial institutions and voices representing the private sector.  Following  the Ukraine Recovery Conference in London, we are proud to welcome the following new partners to the Clean Energy Partnership: the World Bank Group’s International Finance Corporation, whose $2 billion Economic Resilience Action platform is already investing in Ukraine’s green, resilient reconstruction; the UN Global Compact’s Ukraine Energy Initiative, which will act as a voice for its private sector signatories within the Clean Energy Partnership; and the International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA), which aims to support Ukraine’s transition to a sustainable energy future by mobilising green investment.

With these additional partners, we collectively reaffirm our unwavering commitment to supporting Ukraine’s goal of building a resilient, efficient, more decentralised and smart energy system fit for a Net Zero future and with greater integration with Europe thereby also linking Ukraine’s energy reconstruction to its EU accession path and EU energy and climate policy. This group will continue to seek to help Ukraine meet its climate objectives in line with the Paris Agreement while strengthening Ukraine’s energy security and supporting a clean energy transition. The Partnership continues to complement existing bilateral energy partnerships between G7+ members and Ukraine.

All members recognise the importance of highlighting progress made on reforms to showcase Ukraine’s investment potential. We would like to congratulate the Government of Ukraine for making progress on reforms, not only in ensuring its citizens have security of supply and access to energy during the war of aggression, but also supporting the private sector’s role in Ukraine’s future recovery and reconstruction. These include:

• passing new legislation to attract investment in low carbon energy and promoting the development of small, distributed generation, with a special focus on renewable energy
• passing legislation to develop energy storage systems
• progress towards the full adoptions of REMIT (regulation on wholesale energy market integrity and transparency)
• progress made to liberalise wholesale energy tariffs
• progress in the corporatisation of state-owned enterprises including Energoatom, as well as the implementation of a proper corporate governance system for the gas transmission system operator of Ukraine

We encourage close coordination in the development of the ‘Ukraine Plan’ and the reforms necessary for Ukraine’s EU accession process. As highlighted in the World Bank Group’s recent report ‘Private Sector Opportunities for a Green and Resilient Reconstruction in Ukraine’, concerted reform efforts will create significant opportunities for the private sector to drive a green and resilient reconstruction and could generate $169 billion in private financing. We support the key recommended interventions outlined in the report that are projected to increase the share of private financing to address the needs outlined in the World Bank’s Ukraine Rapid Damage Needs Assessment:

• further electricity market liberalisation
• reduce household electricity costs through energy efficiency and energy saving, development of decentralised renewable energy generation and social support
• launch auctions for electricity from renewable energy
• gradual transition to cost-recovery tariffs with incentives to switch to efficient and decarbonised district heating
• allow commercial financing of, or gradual private participation in, state-owned enterprises without compromising energy security
• allow private participation in construction of independent high voltage lines and modernization of district heating systems

To support the transparent reporting and assessment of reforms in the energy sector, the Clean Energy Partnership would like to acknowledge the efforts of: IFC2, the Energy Community Secretariat, UN Global Compact and DiXi Group to monitor progress on reforms.

Alongside its reform efforts, we also congratulate the Government of Ukraine, and in particular the Ministries of Energy, Restoration and Economy on progressing efforts that will realise a pragmatic green and resilient recovery. These include finalising their 2050 Energy Strategy, and its commitment to developing a comprehensive implementation plan; making renewed progress on the National Energy and Climate Plan; completing several full feasibility studies in wind, solar, Bioenergy, geothermal energy production and supporting the development of electric vehicles and energy storage; and developing a new decarbonisation fund with consultation on design from IRENA. We applaud the Government of Ukraine’s continued commitment, despite the ongoing war of aggression, to phasing out state-owned coal power plants by 2035.

The Clean Energy Partnership is supporting these efforts by providing grants, guarantees, technical support and expertise in a coordinated way that reinforces the Government’s efforts to integrate with regional energy markets, harness private finance, and support the adoption of cutting-edge clean energy innovations. This group has collectively committed substantial financial support to help lay the foundations for a cleaner and more secure energy system and serve as a catalyst for Ukraine’s economic recovery.

The Clean Energy Partnership will serve as a forum for discussion, coordination and knowledge sharing to help deliver support for recovery, drive reforms and harness the private sector in Ukraine’s clean energy transition. The members of Clean Energy Partnership will continue to support Ukraine’s efforts for immediate, medium, and long-term recovery and reconstruction of the energy sector.

The press release issued by the Foreign Office on 4 December 2023.

Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office and Ministry of Defence statement in response to attacks on commercial shipping in the Red Sea by Houthi militants.

A UK government spokesperson said:

The United Kingdom condemns the attacks on commercial shipping in the Red Sea by Houthi militants.

As we’ve previously stated, Iran has long provided military and political support to Houthi militants and it bears responsibility for the actions of its proxies and partners.

These waters are vital routes for global trade and incidents like these show the importance of the Royal Navy’s presence in the region, which we announced last week would be bolstered by the additional deployment of HMS Diamond to join HMS Lancaster.

The UK is committed to ensuring the safety of shipping in the region, including through our contribution to the International Maritime Security Construct (IMSC) and Combined Maritime Forces (CMF).