Question to the Ministry of Defence:

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what assessment he has made of the UK's ability to support its logistics chain in relation to its Enhanced Forward Presence in (a) Poland and (b) Estonia.

As framework nation of NATO's enhanced forward presence in Estonia, the UK has successfully maintained two battlegroups in country since early March, increasing our previous presence in response to the Russian invasion of Ukraine. Throughout this period our logistics chain has supported circa 1,800 personnel in Estonia and 250 in Poland (130 in support of the US-led Enhanced Forward Presence) alongside tanks and armoured fighting vehicles. To support this increase in personnel we have doubled our resupply deliveries when required, demonstrating our continued ability to successfully support the logistics chain for UK Enhanced Forward Presence (eFP).

Over the five years we have been the framework nation, the logistic support function has overseen the deployment of 10 battlegroups and successfully carried out approximately10 Strategic Sealifts, and circa 80 flights in support of Strategic Airlifts. My assessment is that the logistics chain will continue to allow UK deployments in support of Allies in Estonia and Poland.