Question to the Ministry of Defence:

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how many countries his Department currently provides military aid to.

The Ministry of Defence (MOD) does not use the term military aid to categorise activity. We do though provide a range of support and assistance to countries across the globe through defence engagement and financed through the Defence Assistance Fund.

The MOD's Defence Assistance Fund supports a variety of defence engagement activities designed to provide practical help and assistance to the nations concerned, at the same time contributing to the UK's own security objectives, including by developing defence relations and increasing UK influence. Assistance may include the provision of military training and education. Defence engagement helps to build the capacity of the recipient nation to address security challenges, both domestically and on the wider stage, including those of terrorism and violent extremism, helping keep Britain safe.

The number of countries in financial year 2017-18 where activity is programmed or has been completed is 116.

Defence Assistance Fund expenditure by financial year (£million)

2007-08 - 9.607

2008-09 - 8.037

2009-10 - 11.040

2010-11 - 13.096

2011-12 - 12.027

2012-13 - 12.327

2013-14 - 15.635

2014-15 - 16.558

2015-16 - 21.158

2016-17 - 27.320