For operational and security reasons the Ministry of Defence is unable to release this detail.

Details of current and future tasking, specific deployments and readiness measures are not routinely disclosed where doing so could prejudice operational security or the safety of our personnel. Where it is possible to do so without compromising security, we will continue to provide non-classified information about Royal Navy activity that supports freedom of navigation, maritime security, protection of UK trade routes and of course protection of our critical undersea infrastructure and data cables.

RAF Gibraltar continues to operate as a sovereign UK military airfield, and the current overflight restrictions by Spain does not impede our operational freedom with respect to aircraft movements and does not impact NATO interoperability in the region.

This remains an extremely challenging and unsettling time for many across the Middle East. The UK condemns Iran’s role in attempting to draw the region into a wider conflict. Our priority is to protect British nationals, British interests and our partners and allies in the Gulf. We support action that will help bring a swift resolution to this conflict, and an end to Iran's reckless and escalatory response

As part of our contribution, the UK has deployed additional military capabilities to the region. As confirmed by the Prime Minister in his statement on 5 March 2026, an additional four Typhoon aircraft are now deployed to Qatar to provide regional defensive counter air including UAE and Bahrain. RAF Typhoon and F-35 aircraft are continuing air operations over Jordan, Qatar, and Cyprus and the wider Gulf region in defence of British interests and allies.

We continue to assess other assistance requested from our regional partners.

Ministry of Defence are leveraging the expertise of British Defence Industry to enhance our regional partners’ defensive capabilities, particularly regarding C-UAS and Air Defence. Defence Attachés in the region have an updated list of UK companies who have capability to support have been engaging with our partners across the Gulf to understand their requests.

We are working at pace to match Middle East requirements with Industry offers. We are also facilitating Government to Industry (G2I) connections for Middle East countries and UK Industry to hasten support to our regional partners.

I refer the hon. gentleman to the response given to Question 118648 on 16 March 2026.

For operational and personnel security reasons we do not disclose the precise force levels deployed in the South Atlantic.

We do not comment on deployment decisions for reasons of operational security.

The Royal Navy’s ‘Hybrid Navy’ proposition will embrace autonomy in the coming years with the future programme being developed in accordance with the Strategic Defence Review. Uncrewed and autonomous systems will be incorporated into the domain capabilities over the next five years, with the exact numbers and levels of investment apportioned to these systems to be determined as part of the Defence Investment Plan.

The UK remains steadfast in its commitment to maintaining a presence in the Middle East, reassuring partners and contributing to regional security and stability. Central to this posture is the UK Maritime Component Command (UKMCC), located in Bahrain, with a footprint of c125 personnel, which commands and controls Royal Navy and Royal Fleet Auxiliary ships. This also includes the MOD’s role in the Combined Maritime Forces framework and the delivery of training to regional partners.

The Royal Navy is evolving its approach to operations in the Middle East, focusing on modernising capabilities, strengthening partnerships, and ensuring basing and access for times of crisis. The RN’s modernisation programme has already delivered an autonomous mine countermeasures capability operating in the Gulf, which continues to innovate at pace. In terms of personnel footprint, the RN maintains a strong regional presence, including roles within US Fifth Fleet Task Forces in Bahrain, Loan Service personnel in Oman, RN embeds in the British Military Mission in Kuwait, and RN personnel advising on seabed warfare through the Ministry of Defence Saudi Armed Forces Programme (MODSAP) programme in Saudi Arabia.

The RN remains agile and ready to respond to emerging threats, deploying platforms to meet Defence Plan commitments and operational requirements, which are continuously reviewed.

The UK remains steadfast in its commitment to maintaining a presence in the Middle East, reassuring partners and contributing to regional security and stability. Central to this posture is the UK Maritime Component Command (UKMCC), located in Bahrain, with a footprint of c125 personnel, which commands and controls Royal Navy and Royal Fleet Auxiliary ships. This also includes the MOD’s role in the Combined Maritime Forces framework and the delivery of training to regional partners.

The Royal Navy is evolving its approach to operations in the Middle East, focusing on modernising capabilities, strengthening partnerships, and ensuring basing and access for times of crisis. The RN’s modernisation programme has already delivered an autonomous mine countermeasures capability operating in the Gulf, which continues to innovate at pace. In terms of personnel footprint, the RN maintains a strong regional presence, including roles within US Fifth Fleet Task Forces in Bahrain, Loan Service personnel in Oman, RN embeds in the British Military Mission in Kuwait, and RN personnel advising on seabed warfare through the Ministry of Defence Saudi Armed Forces Programme (MODSAP) programme in Saudi Arabia.

The RN remains agile and ready to respond to emerging threats, deploying platforms to meet Defence Plan commitments and operational requirements, which are continuously reviewed.

The Ministry of Defence keeps its force posture in the Middle East under continual review to safeguard the UK's national security interests and operational requirements. We remain committed to working with our partners across the region.

Our significant maritime collaboration and senior Naval representation highlights our enduring commitment to stability and security in the region. Capabilities such as Maritime Domain Awareness, uncrewed systems, and a world class training offer ensure that our allies and partners are supported and ready to meet challenges in the region.

The Secretary of State speaks regularly with his Australian counterpart and last spoke on 11 February. These discussions typically cover a range of issues of mutual interest, including the importance of upholding security and stability in the Indo-Pacific.

We remain committed to international law, the primacy of the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS), to freedom of navigation and overflight and to a free and open Indo-Pacific.

The Ministry of Defence keeps its force posture in the Middle East under continual review to safeguard the UK’s national security interests and operational requirements. We remain committed to working with our partners across the region. The Strategic Defence Review, due to be published in the Spring, will set out Defence’s strategic priorities and context for subsequent resource allocation, including informing the global distribution of Royal Navy assets.

Future funding decisions are subject to the ongoing Spending Review, and the outcome of the Strategic Defence Review.

The UK is committed to asserting its rights to freedom of navigation and overflight, as laid out in the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea. Wherever we operate in the world we do so in full compliance with international laws and norms. The last transit through the Taiwan Strait was carried out by the Royal Navy in 2021, when HMS Richmond (Type 23 Frigate) conducted a Taiwan Strait Navigation during CSG21 deployment en route to Vietnam.

HMS Spey visited Pitcairn in February 2022 delivering COVID vaccines and dental care as part of its duties as one of the two Royal Navy Offshore Patrol Vessels deployed in the Indo-Pacific. In addition, Spey conducted patrols in the waters around the islands in the Pitcairn chain to deter and defend against illegal fishing and to carry out environmental monitoring.

The Integrated Review recognises that the Indo-Pacific region is at the centre of intensifying geopolitical competition with multiple potential flashpoints. The recent actions and remarks made by China on Taiwan are concerning. We will continue to encourage open communication and de-escalation.

The Ministry of Defence regularly reviews UK global defence posture and capabilities to take account of emerging threats and crises. We have not made an assessment as to the adequacy of the UK's military presence in the Indo-Pacific region. However, we are strengthening defence and security cooperation, increasing our engagement with regional security groupings and exercising with the US, Australia and regional partners, including through the Five Powers Defence Arrangements (FPDA) members.

Our maritime presence in the region has grown, with the deployment of two Offshore Patrol Vessels (OPVs) as part of our persistent presence approach. The joint UK and US defence facility on the British Indian Ocean Territory plays a vital role in our efforts to keep the region secure and we retain a permanent presence in Brunei, through the Resident Infantry Battalion.

The UK has long been a strong supporter of the Organisation for Security and Co-operation in Europe's (OSCE) Special Monitoring Mission to Ukraine - politically, financially and through providing a large number of qualified personnel, including one of the Deputy Chief Monitors of the Mission. The UK Government condemned Russia's decision in March to block the renewal of the mission's mandate, which will lead to its full closure by 31 October 2022. As renewing the mandate requires consensus from all 57 participating OSCE States, including Russia, there is unfortunately no prospect of doing so under the current circumstances.

Defence has successfully maintained its core and most important outputs throughout the pandemic, reacting with agility and flexibility to mitigate the risks posed by COVID-19. Defence will continue to take a risk management approach and adopt appropriate Force Protection measures to enable the overseas deployment of UK Armed Forces personnel during the pandemic.

NATO has not pledged to deploy troops in Ukraine in the event of an invasion by Russia. NATO has been clear however that any further military incursion into Ukraine by Russia would be a very serious strategic mistake and would be met with significant consequences, including severe economic costs through coordinated sanctions by Allies and partners. Russia's unprovoked and unjustified military build-up in and around Ukraine undermines Euro-Atlantic security. NATO and the UK are united in support of Ukraine's sovereignty and territorial integrity. The Alliance remains open to dialogue but Russia must de-escalate.