Defence: Diplomatic Relations
The question
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, with reference to page 78 of the Strategic Defence Review: Making Britain Safer: secure at home, strong abroad, published on 2 June 2025, whether he has consulted external sources on the new Defence Diplomacy Strategy.
Answered by Louise Sandher-Jones
To support the development of the Defence Diplomacy Strategy, the Ministry of Defence is consulting a range of sources. To ensure a diverse range of views are reflected in the development of the strategy, this will include exploring options to formally consult external defence and foreign policy think tanks and institutions, as well as the use of existing external open-source research published by UK-based think tanks.
The Defence Diplomacy Strategy will prioritise the use of the Defence instrument in support of UK defence and wider foreign policy objectives. It will ensure that we are taking a coordinated, strategic and deliberate approach to protect and promote UK interests and enhance UK influence.
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