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<p>British Forces are involved in more than 30 operations in over 20 countries. We
are effectively protecting the UK and its interests from a range of threats, and promoting
security in key regions of the world.</p><p>Protecting the UK.</p><p>We continue to
defend UK airspace with an integrated Air Defence system that includes Quick Reaction
Alert Typhoon aircraft held at continuous readiness, Voyager tankers, and air surveillance
and control facilities. We also provide such capabilities to police NATO airspace
alongside our allies. Royal Navy assets defend our territorial waters and overseas
territories, and maintain our Continuous At Sea Deterrent.</p><p>The Ministry of Defence
(MOD) continues to ensure that the support it provides to the Government response
in the event of a UK terrorism incident is in line with the current threat. The MOD
has 10,000 military personnel available on standby at short notice to assist the civil
authorities for significant terrorist incidents, supported by a wide range of niche
military experts and equipment, such as bomb disposal specialists. The Police and
maritime authorities have primacy for domestic security of the UK coastline against
criminal elements but the MOD maintains forces to provide support to these authorities
as required.</p><p>Counter-Daesh, Operation SHADER.</p><p>In Iraq and Syria, Operation
SHADER is the UK's military response to the threat posed by Daesh. As part of the
Global Coalition, the RAF is conducting airstrikes in support of local forces - the
Iraqi Security Forces (including the Kurdish Peshmerga) and the Syrian moderate opposition
- who are taking the fight to Daesh. British military training teams are providing
highly valuable training to Iraqi forces in infantry skills, counter-IED techniques,
medical skills and engineering expertise. This is part of the Government's overall
strategy to defeat Daesh which includes stifling Daesh's finances; preventing the
flow of foreign terrorist fighters across borders; supporting stabilisation efforts
in areas liberated from Daesh; and exposing Daesh's delusional and false-religious
narrative through counter-messaging.</p><p>Middle East.</p><p>We continue to underpin
our enduring contribution to the security of the Gulf through the deployment of significant
maritime and air capabilities. We have further reiterated our commitment to the Gulf
States with two recent deployments. The first of these was HMS Daring, which deployed
to the Gulf and the Southern Red Sea in October 2016 for seven months, protecting
vital shipping lanes and ensuring maritime security. The second was the commitment
of the UK's amphibious task group under HMS Ocean, which commanded the regional US-led
Coalition Task Force 50 for the first time, from 25 November 2016 to 14 February 2017.</p><p>NATO.</p><p>As
part of NATO's enhanced Forward Presence, we have 800 personnel deployed in Estonia
and 150 in Poland. We have 30 personnel deployed on NATO's mission in Kosovo and Headquarters
Allied Rapid Reaction Corps and the UK Joint Force Air Component are on standby as
NATO Response Force (NRF) Component Commands. In addition, we are leading the land
element of the Very High Readiness Joint Task Force with 3,000 personnel on standby
to deploy rapidly if required. We have deployed Typhoon fast jets to Romania for four
months as part of NATO's enhanced Southern Air Policing mission, and we are also contributing
Royal Navy warships and Royal Air Force aircraft to the NRF.</p><p>Afghanistan.</p><p>The
UK Government continues to make a key contribution to NATO's non-combat train, advise
and assist mission which is helping the Afghan National Defence and Security Forces
to build security and stability for the long term. The UK has 500 troops in Afghanistan
serving in a non-combat role, alongside our NATO partners as advisers in the Afghan
security ministries and to the Afghan Air Force, and provide security for NATO Forces
in Kabul. As the coalition lead for the Afghan National Army Officer Academy, the
UK has helped to train over 2,000 officer cadets, who will be the next generation
of military leaders.</p><p>Countering Illegal Migration.</p><p>The Royal Navy has
been at the forefront of NATO's activity in the eastern Mediterranean tackling illegal
people trafficking and irregular migration in the Aegean Sea. Between March 2016 and
January 2017 a Royal Navy or Royal Fleet Auxiliary ship was deployed to the Aegean
in support of the Turkish and Greek coastguards. NATO's activity in the Aegean has
contributed to a 98% reduction in people attempting to make the dangerous crossing
between Turkey and Greece.</p><p>We continue to provide a vessel to the EU's Operation
Sophia, which aims to disrupt migrant smuggling in the Mediterranean, and are supporting
training of the Libyan coast guard. The UK also has the command of the EU Op Atalanta
counter-piracy mission off the Horn of Africa.</p><p>UN Peacekeeping and Training
Missions in Africa.</p><p>The UK is increasing its commitment to UN peacekeeping.
We have 200 troops on the ground in the UN Mission in South Sudan, set to reach over
350 by May, undertaking vital engineering and medical tasks. Over the last 12 months
we have committed up to 70 troops to the UN support mission in Somalia.</p><p>Elsewhere
in Africa we have training missions in Nigeria and Somalia, as well as contributing
to the EU mission in Mali.</p>
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