Asked by: Holly Mumby-Croft (Conservative - Scunthorpe)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what assessment his Department has made of the impact of French troops' withdrawal from Mali on British forces deployed there; and what additional assistance is being provided to those British forces in response to that withdrawal.
Answered by James Heappey
We have been supporting the French Counter Terrorism Operation BARKHANE since July 2018 through provision of a CH47 Support Helicopter detachment. As the French mission concludes, so will the UK's contribution to it.
The UK's continued support to the United Nations MINUSMA mission is still being considered. Some critical enablers for the UK's continuation sit with the French force. We are discussing with other European allies whether these can be replaced.