Question to the Ministry of Defence:

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how the UK’s overseas military footprint is being organised to meet regional deterrence goals.

The Strategic Defence Review put NATO First at the heart of UK defence policy, reflecting the growing threat from Russia and the need for European Allies to take greater responsibility for our collective security. We are therefore prioritising our military contribution where it can have the greatest deterrent effect, while retaining the flexibility to respond to emerging threats.

The Global Integrated Plan is the Department’s mechanism for cohering Defence activity across regions, ensuring military activity is aligned with the Government’s highest priorities. This mechanism regularly reviews our global military footprint against evolving security challenges.

The UK leads NATO’s Forward Land Forces in Estonia, contributes to NATO Air Policing on the Eastern Flank and to maritime security in the Baltic, while increasing our presence and activity in the High North. We continually assess our force posture against the evolving threat and requirement to ensure UK forces remain positioned to deter, defend and respond wherever required.