Question to the Ministry of Defence:

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, whether he plans to expand the Defence Attaché network.

The Ministry of Defence remains committed to strengthening our global defence partnerships and ensuring our national security interests are well represented abroad. Whilst we carefully prioritise locations where a greater presence will have the most impact, the outcomes of the Strategic Defence Review (SDR) and subsequent Spending Review will have a direct impact on Defence’s desire to expand the Diplomatic Network.

2024 saw the assignment of a residentially accredited Defence Attaché to a newly established Defence Section in Montevideo (Uruguay). Whilst in 2025, Defence Sections in Baku (Azerbaijan) and Yerevan (Armenia) are scheduled to open. Expansion of the Defence Attaché network aligns with our broader foreign and security objectives, ensuring we are well-positioned with allies and partners to respond to emerging threats and evolving geopolitical challenges.