Question to the Ministry of Defence:

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what steps he is taking to increase defence partnerships between the UK and the Indo-Pacific Four.

The UK continues to strengthen defence partnerships with the Indo-Pacific Four (Australia, Japan, New Zealand and the Republic of Korea) through regular defence engagement, joint exercises and capability cooperation. Examples include UK participation in Exercise VIGILANT ISLES with Japan and, most recently, Exercise PITCH BLACK with Australia. The UK is collaborating on capability with Japan through the Global Combat Air Programme (GCAP), and with Australia through AUKUS.