Written question asked by Colin Burgon (Labour) on Monday, 2 November 2009, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Thursday, 5 November 2009. It was answered by Bob Ainsworth (Labour) on Thursday, 5 November 2009 on behalf of the Ministry of Defence.

South America: Foreign Relations

Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence on what dates Ministers from his Department met representatives of the Government of (a) Brazil, (b) Argentina, (c) Venezuela, (d) Ecuador, (e) Chile, (f) Cuba, (g) Bolivia, (h) Paraguay and (i) Colombia to discuss defence relations in (i) 2008 and (ii) 2009.

Answer: The Minister for the Armed Forces met with the Brazilian Minister for Long Term Planning on 18 March 2008. He met to discuss defence relations and other topics with the Colombian ambassador on 20 July 2009, and he met with Brazilian Government representatives during his visit to Brazil from 2-4 September 2009. The Minister for International Defence and Security met with a delegation from Chile, headed by the Chilean Under-Secretary of Defence for the Chilean Air Force, on 7 July 2009; she also hosted a dinner in the evening.

Secondary information