Question to the Ministry of Defence:

To ask Her Majesty's Government when the Prime Minister last spoke to (1) the President of Russia, and (2) the President of China, about the military presence of those countries within the Arctic Circle; and what discussions they have had with (a) the government of Russia, and (b) the government of China, at any ministerial level about that issue.

The UK's primary objective in the Arctic is to maintain the region as one characterised by high levels of international cooperation and low tensions. We support the Arctic Council and continue to play an active role in its work as a state observer, and are committed to working with our partners to ensure that increasing access to the region and its resources is managed safely, sustainably and responsibly. Russia and China's military presence in the Arctic has not been part of any recent Prime Ministerial or Ministerial discussions.