Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask the Minister of State, Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office, whether he has had recent discussions with his counterparts in (a) Egypt, (b) Sudan, (c) Saudi Arabia and (d) Yemen on maritime security in the Red Sea.

We are working with allies and partners to safeguard maritime security and navigational rights and freedoms in the Red Sea. The UK takes threats to shipping vessels in the Red Sea extremely seriously.

The Foreign Secretary has recently discussed the Red Sea and other matters with his counterparts in Saudi Arabia and Egypt. The Defence Secretary also recently spoke with Yemeni President Alimi and Saudi Minister of Defence Khalid bin Salman, and Minister for the Middle East and North Africa, Lord Ahmad, recently spoke with Yemeni Foreign Minister Mubarak.

Despite the repeated warnings from the international community, the Houthis have continued to carry these illegal and unjustified attacks in the Red Sea, including against UK and US warships from 9 January. Consequently, on 11 January, we took limited, necessary, proportionate, and legal action in self-defence to degrade Houthi military capabilities and protect global shipping.

We continue to pursue all diplomatic routes.