Defence Minister, Lord Howe, met counterparts at the European Foreign Affairs Council in Brussels. He reaffirmed the UK’s commitment to European security and highlighted the role the UK plays as a global foreign policy and security actor.

Defence Minister, Lord Howe, said: "We are leaving the European Union but not Europe, and regional security remains top of our agenda in the face of increased Russian assertiveness. With challenges to our common security becoming more serious, our response must be to work together more closely."

Lord Howe discussed the important role the UK plays in European security matters as we prepare to exit the European Union, and highlighted the UK's commitment to the region as a leading member of NATO in a session attended by NATO Secretary General, Jens Stoltenberg.

He reiterated that the UK is unconditionally committed to maintaining Europe’s security in the face of an unprecedented range of internal and external threats to the safety and security of our citizens, from international terrorism to cyber threats. This follows the meeting of NATO Defence Ministers in Brussels last week, attended by Defence Secretary, Gavin Williamson, in which he committed four RAF Typhoons to the Southern Air Policing mission in Romania next summer as well as a Battalion that will be held at high readiness to respond to any situation in the Western Balkans.