Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask the Minister of State, Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office, whether he has plans to meet with his counterpart in Djibouti to discuss the (a) geopolitical situation in the Gulf of Aden and (b) attack and seizure of commercial vessels.

The UK is committed to ensuring the safety of shipping in the region, including through our contributions to the International Maritime Security Construct and Combined Maritime Forces. We regularly discuss issues, including regional security, in our bilateral engagements with Djibouti. These waters are vital routes for global trade and incidents like these show the importance of the Royal Navy's presence, including both HMS Diamond and Lancaster, in the region.