Royal Navy: Caribbean
Debate between Baroness Fookes and Lord Lemos
Lord Lemos (Lab)
The Royal Navy has supported partners in the Middle East with operations that have included a significant seizure of more than £30 million-worth of drugs in 2025 alone. I understand the question that the noble Viscount is asking and am happy to take that message back to the Ministry of Defence. However, I should make it absolutely clear for the record that the Ministry of Defence keeps its forces posture in the Middle East under constant review to safeguard UK interests, as I am sure the noble Viscount would expect, and the Royal Navy remains committed to regional stability through its enduring presence.
Baroness Fookes (Con)
My Lords, does the naval ship that is out there still carry a contingent of US Coastguard forces, as it did when I was on a similar ship many years ago as a member of the Armed Forces Parliamentary Scheme when it did work in tandem in intercepting drugs?
Lord Lemos (Lab)
I do not know the exact answer regarding presence, and I am very happy to find out more and come back to the noble Baroness, but what I do know is that we work closely with the JIATF. We maintain close co-operation through a UK liaison officer embedded with the US Joint Interagency Task Force in Florida, ensuring effective co-ordination with allies in counternarcotics activity. I cannot overstress the importance of this activity and the joint work that we do. It has direct relevance and benefits for the streets of all our towns and cities.