Minister Baroness Goldie reaffirms UK commitment to the Philippines
UK Defence Minister Baroness Goldie celebrates the relationship between the UK and the Philippines during her visit to Manila and Legazpi this week.
UK Defence Minister Baroness Goldie visits the Philippines
The Indo-Pacific is critical to the UK’s economy, security and interest in a free and open international order. Reinforcing the strengthening UK – Philippines relationship, Baroness Goldie will conduct meetings at the Department for National Defense and the Armed Forces of the Philippines HQ to discuss the UK’s Indo-Pacific strategy and the importance of maritime security and upholding maritime law.
The Minister will attend the closing ceremony of Exercise SAMA SAMA, which the UK has joined alongside other nations, supporting international defence cooperation and the rules-based international order. HMS Spey, a Royal Navy offshore patrol vessel, will be participating in the naval exercise.
HMS Spey, one of the greenest ships in the Royal Navy, is part of a five-year operation to the Indo-Pacific region alongside her sister ship HMS Tamar. Working with partners, the ship is helping tackle security challenges, supporting efforts against illegal, unregulated and unreported fisheries activity, and supporting nations to deal with the impacts of climate change.
To pay her respects to all those fallen, the Minister will lay a wreath at the Commonwealth War Grave in the American Cemetery in Manila. The Commonwealth War Graves Commission works tirelessly to maintain cemeteries around the world to ensure that the fallen will always be appropriately remembered.
UK Defence Minister, Baroness Goldie, said:
The UK remains committed to our relationship with the Philippines, and I am pleased both to be visiting for the first time and to be the first UK Defence Minister to visit in many years.
I look forward to visiting Exercise SAMA SAMA, and discussing how the UK and the Philippines can deepen our defence cooperation as part of our shared commitment to a free and open Indo-Pacific.
Baroness Goldie will discuss the UK’s enduring commitment to the Indo-Pacific and regional peace and security during her visit. The UK Government is committed to further strengthening ties with the Philippines.
Last updated 17 October 2023 + show all updates
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Added a video message from the Minister talking about her visit to the country.
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First published.