Author Archives: HM Government

At a meeting of NATO Defence Ministers today, the Defence Secretary confirmed:

• The Royal Navy will take the lead of half of NATO’s maritime forces for a year.
• Offensive cyber support to NATO operations.
• Increased UK support for advising the Afghan Government, and its defence and security forces.
• Strengthened cooperation on Maritime Patrol Aircraft.

The meeting also confirmed that Britain continues to meet its commitment of spending 2% of GDP on defence, as well as meeting the target of 20% defence spend on equipment and capabilities.

Leading NATO’s maritime forces

HMS Duncan, a state of the art Type 45 Destroyer, will lead NATO’s Standing Maritime Naval Group 2 (SNMG2), providing reassurance and deterrence in the Black Sea, as well as commanding NATO’s counter migration activity in the Mediterranean. The naval force will also exercise together to improve the Alliance’s readiness and ability to work together on operations, as well as conducting port visits in the region, including to Ukraine.

HMS Enterprise will also lead Standing NATO Mine Countermeasures Group 2 (SNMCMG2) from July this year. The Mine Countermeasures Group is a multinational, integrated maritime force, made up of vessels from a number of NATO countries. The group is mainly based in the Mediterranean and is capable of searching for and disposing of explosive ordnance. HMS Enterprise will be the flagship for the force, and will be joined by HMS Pembroke in the second half of 2017.

Defence Secretary Sir Michael Fallon said:

As part of our leadership within the Alliance, we’re stepping up our NATO commitments. Whether it’s in the cyber domain, where I’m committing UK support to NATO operations, or on the high seas with HMS Duncan and HMS Enterprise leading half of the Alliance’s maritime forces in the Mediterranean, the Aegean and the Black Sea, Britain is playing its full part.

Strengthening cooperation on Maritime Patrol Aircraft

On the margins of today’s meeting, Sir Michael signed a Statement of Intent on North Atlantic Maritime Patrol with his US and Norwegian counterparts. The agreement enhances collaboration on each nation’s P-8A Maritime Patrol Aircraft programmes and will provide NATO Allies with multiple benefits in the maritime reconnaissance and anti-submarine areas.

Defence Secretary Sir Michael Fallon said:

The P-8A aircraft will play a vital role in protecting the UK’s nuclear deterrent, the two new Queen Elizabeth Class carriers and supporting our NATO Allies.

By investing in these aircraft, as part of our £178 billion defence equipment programme, we’re showing that we’re serious in tackling the threats on NATO’s North Atlantic flank.

And in stepping up our cooperation with the US and Norway on maritime patrol around our shores, we will help keep Britain safer and more secure.

Stepping up to counter terror around the world

The Defence Secretary also confirmed today that Britain is stepping up its support to Afghanistan, with around 85 extra service personnel to support NATO’s mission in the country.

Britain has an enduring commitment to Afghanistan, and supporting the Government and the Afghan National Security and Defence Forces (ANDSF) helps to prevent the country from becoming a safe haven for terror.

The increase of UK personnel comes in response to a NATO request, which was made to all partner nations, for additional troops to support the Alliance’s train, advise and assist mission in the country.

The additional troops will continue to work in non-combat roles mentoring the Afghan Army and Police, the Afghan Air Force, and will provide further support to the ANDSF in training and leadership development.

Underlining Britain’s leadership within NATO, the uplift will add to the already significant contribution of 500 troops the UK already makes to NATO’s Resolute Support Mission.

Endgame for Daesh in Mosul

Three years on since the start of the so-called caliphate was proclaimed in Mosul, Defence Secretary Sir Michael Fallon underlined that Daesh faces its endgame in the city where it originally launched its ideological campaign of terror and violence.

Sir Michael said that the terrorist group faces irreversible momentum and progress from local forces on the ground, and UK and Coalition aircraft in the skies. UK aircrew have now hit over 700 targets in support of operations to liberate Mosul since last year. In addition to operations over Mosul, the RAF has so far struck 69 targets in and around Raqqa in support of Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) advancing on the city from the north, east and west.

With Daesh losing ground on two fronts in Mosul and Raqqa, around 70% of territory once controlled by the terror group in Iraq and 51% in Syria, has now been liberated. This amounts to over 4 million Iraqis and Syrians who have been freed from Daesh tyranny.

read more

The Prime Minister held bilateral talks with Chancellor Merkel today in Berlin ahead of a meeting with EU leaders to prepare next week’s G20 summit in Hamburg.

The Prime Minister said the UK was fully supportive of Germany’s G20 presidency, and would work to ensure meaningful progress at the summit in key areas including counter-terrorism.

They discussed Brexit, welcoming the constructive start to the negotiations and agreeing it was important that the rights of citizens was the first issue to be discussed.

They agreed on the need to work even more closely together to counter threats to European security, including countering Russia’s destabilising external interference in Europe’s neighbouring regions such as the Western Balkans, and encouraging swift implementation of the Minsk Accords in Ukraine.

After her bilateral meeting with Chancellor Merkel, the Prime Minister’s talks with EU leaders covered a range of topics due to be discussed at the G20 summit, including counter-terrorism, trade, and climate change.

On counter-terrorism, the Prime Minister made the point that the international community must come together and do more to counter terrorism and extremism, which is a shared threat facing us all. She said we needed to see continued progress in tackling online radicalisation, building on the agreements reached at the G7 summit.

On trade, the Prime Minister made the point that the UK is a powerful advocate for free trade and the World Trade Organisation, and a global economy that works for everyone. She said the international community must acknowledge that some people feel left behind by globalisation, and that not all countries are playing by the rules. The Prime Minister encouraged other leaders to take steps to make the international trading system work better, and also to ensure that all our citizens can share in the benefits of the global economy.

Finally, on climate change, the Prime Minister reiterated that the British government’s commitment to the Paris Agreement and tackling global climate change is as strong as ever. We play a leading role internationally and are delivering on our commitments to create a safer, more prosperous future for us all. The Prime Minister confirmed that the UK will continue working closely with our partners on energy and climate change issues.

read more

Chile Day’s objective include strengthening ties between the City of London and representatives from Chilean capital markets

read more

The first of July marks 20 years since Britain returned Hong Kong to China.

And it’s a moment to reflect on Hong Kong’s immense achievements as a thriving and dynamic city, serving as a gateway to the biggest and fastest-growing markets in the world.

The rule of law, an independent judiciary, and a free media have all been central to Hong Kong’s success.

As we look to the future, Britain hopes that Hong Kong will make more progress towards a fully democratic and accountable system of government.

And I want to stress that Britain’s commitment to Hong Kong – enshrined in the Joint Declaration with China – is just as strong today as it was 20 years ago.

I’ve no doubt that Hong Kong’s future success will depend on the rights and freedoms protected by that treaty.

In that spirit, it’s essential that the principle of ‘One Country, Two Systems’ should continue to provide the basis of Hong Kong’s way of life into the future.

read more

Thank you, for that warm welcome, and good morning to all of you. Thank you President Aznar for your opening address. My thanks also to the organisers for putting together such an excellent programme of events. I do not doubt you will enjoy the next two days. Ladies and Gentlemen, it is an honour to be here to address you today.

It is a real pleasure to welcome you to London. Because I am delighted that Chile has once again chosen our great capital city as the location for this now well-established investment showcase. And that Chile has done so is testament both to London’s status as an international financial capital, and also to the long-standing friendship between our two countries.

Now, as some of you may know, the room we are seated in takes its name from the great 19th century Prime Minister William Gladstone, who was not only a champion of free trade but also an admirer of George Canning who, as Foreign Minister, promoted independence and free trade in Latin America 200 years ago. So this seems a particularly appropriate place to be celebrating the two-hundred year relationship between our two countries, and to be demonstrating opportunities for future trade and cooperation.

So in that vein, this year we celebrate the 100th anniversary of the British-Chilean Chamber of Commerce – and it is proof of the long standing links between our two nations exist and are very real. And what began as a focal point for British businesses seeking to develop links with the local community is now a vital engine of bilateral trade.

Indeed, in the last decade alone, the British commercial presence in Chile has expanded dramatically both in scale and in scope. It is active in sectors as diverse as energy, food and pharmaceuticals. Last year alone our commercial team in Chile secured £75 million in export wins relating to mining.

But it’s not just about exports – we work together to produce world-beating goods and services and to improve the conditions and technological standards in a whole range of industries.

And one such example is the partnership between the UK’s Building Research Establishment and the University of Chile.

Together they are working to develop a technological innovation centre in Santiago focussed on construction techniques that are environmentally friendly and which design resource-efficient buildings. It will give the Chilean construction industry access to the latest innovations and help users to design buildings which are the very best for those who inhabit them. In time it has the potential to drive real advances in construction in Chile and will, no doubt, lead to the creation of cleaner cities, thus addressing one of the major challenges of the modern world.

And through our Newton Picarte Fund we work closely with various Chilean institutions on more than 200 science and innovation projects. From agriculture to engineering, social sciences to medical research, these projects have led to new partnerships, increased knowledge, insights and deeper impact in key economic areas. They give unprecedented visibility, influence and impact to the work of Chilean and British scientists and are making a real difference in a number of areas.

One such project is ‘Hephaestus’, which is showing the extractive industry, indeed the industry in which I used to work, how to use innovative satellite technology to increase productivity while minimising the negative social and environmental impact of mining.

And these are just a few examples of the many ways in which the UK and Chile are working together. There are opportunities for much more cooperation and investment ahead.

Now, this Chile Day comes at a time of important change and opportunity for the UK as well. As we face the challenge of negotiating our exit from the European Union, the opportunities presented by our new status outside the EU will bring benefits to both of our countries. With elections coming in the next few months, Chile faces the prospect of change and opportunity too. I just hope that the outcome of your election is more definite and pleasing than the outcome of ours!

Negotiating our exit from the EU will be the biggest challenge we have faced in the UK in a generation. But our approach to negotiations will be responsible, it will be considered and it will be strategic. And I am confident the commitment the UK and Chile share towards free trade and our outward-looking approach to the world will help us both make the most of the opportunities together.

In negotiating our exit from the EU, our objective is to make our economy work for all our citizens. So, the UK will be more active, more outward-facing, and more energetic on the world stage than ever before – and we greatly appreciate your support in this endeavour.

And like Chile, we will continue to focus on removing barriers to trade, even while others seek to build them up.

So in order to ensure continuity in our trade and investment relationships with third countries following our departure from the EU, we will seek to replicate all existing EU Free Trade Agreements and other EU preferential arrangements. Chile has significant trade expertise in this area, and will remain a natural partner.

The UK and Chile are not only allies, we’re also friends. Chile is and will remain one of our closest partners in Latin America. Our companies do business together; our scientists carry out research together; our governments tackle global challenges together. It is a hugely successful partnership and one that benefits both sides. So I look forward to working with my Chilean counterparts to enhance it further. And I wish you a productive Chile Day, and look forward to welcoming you back in 2018.

Thank you.

Further information

read more