HL Deb 03 February 1997 vol 577 cc132-3WA
Lord Kennet

asked Her Majesty's Government:

Whether the recently signed agreement between the United Kingdom and the United Arab Emirates is complementary to the agreement signed between the United Arab Emirates and France which stipulates the dispatch of a 27,000-strong French force; and whether it involves any deployment of British forces in the Emirates.

Earl Howe

The UK signed a Defence co-operation Accord (DCA) with the Government of the United Arab Emirates in Abu Dhabi on Thursday 28th November. The accord provides for the strengthening of military co-operation between the UAE and the UK in a number of areas, including training, the conduct of combined exercises, the provision of modern defence equipment and related services to the UAE Armed Forces and the development of joint military plans and deployment strategies for the defence of the UAE. It builds upon the 1971 Treaty of Friendship between the UK and the UAE and upon the long-standing history of defence co-operation between our two countries and is designed to promote security and stability in a region of strategic importance to the UK. The accord is a matter solely between the UK and UAE; it is, therefore, entirely separate from any agreement signed between the UAE and France.

Under the terms of this accord, the UK is committed to assisting the UAE in deterring threats or preventing aggression against the UAE and, in the event of such aggression taking place, to implementing the joint military plans which are judged appropriate for the defence of the UAE. Any decision to deploy UK armed forces to the Middle East will of course be made at the time by the government of the day in the light of prevailing circumstances.