Question to the Ministry of Defence:

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what steps he is taking to help ensure the cooperation of South East Asian nations in the UK's strategic and defence posture in the Indo-Pacific.

The Integrated Review Refresh described the Government's intention to put the Indo-Pacific Tilt on a long-term strategic footing. Defence relationships with South East Asian nations make an important contribution.

We are enhancing our engagement with the Five Power Defence Arrangements, are participating as observers in a number of ASEAN Expert Working Groups and have applied to join the ASEAN Defence Ministers Meeting Plus (ADMM+).

My Rt Hon Friend the Secretary of State for Ddefence met his Singaporean and Indonesian counterparts earlier this month. We have signed MOUs with Vietnam and Thailand and expanded our defence network to cover nine ASEAN members.

Our presence in Brunei, two offshore patrol vessels and other exercises and training contribute to stability across the region.