Since September 2001, UK representatives have been permanently attached to US HQ CENTCOM. There are currently over 30 UK personnel deployed to CENTCOM working alongside the US and 60 coalition partners in pursuit of our national and common objectives.

AFGHANISTAN 

The UK is militarily engaged in Afghanistan because the country had become a base for terrorists who continue to threatened Britain and the rest of the world. The Taliban gave al Qaeda safe haven in Afghanistan, which allowed terrorists to plan and carry out attacks around the world, including the atrocities of 11 September 2001. Following the terrorist attacks on Washington DC and New York, the United Kingdom identified four main goals in its campaign against international terrorism: deny Al Qaida its Afghan base, deny them an alternative base outside Afghanistan, attack Al Qaida internationally, and support other states in their efforts against Al Qaida.

The Al Qaida training camps and the Taliban regime that protected them were removed from Afghanistan in the months after 9/11 and the presence of international forces prevents them from returning, but Afghanistan is not yet strong enough to look after its own security.

The UK Government wants Afghanistan to become a stable and secure state that is able to suppress terrorism and violent extremism itself.  The reason our troops and civilians are working with the Government of Afghanistan is simple – to help them stop terrorism and extremism for our national security. The United Nations authorised international military intervention led by NATO, because terrorism is a security threat we all share. More than 60 countries, including NATO and non-NATO members, are working with the Government of Afghanistan to establish stability; the majority nations provide troops to the NATO-led International Security Assistance Force, to which the UK is the second largest troop contributor with over 9,500 personnel currently deployed.

From the first attacks in October 2001, the UK was involved in Afghanistan alongside Coalition forces, led by the US under Operation Enduring Freedom (OEF). Royal Navy submarines fired Tomahawk missiles against the Taliban and Al Qaida networks, and RAF aircraft provided reconnaissance and air-to-air refuelling capabilities in support of US strike aircraft.

UK troops were first deployed to Afghanistan in November 2001, when Royal Marines from 40 Commando helped to secure the airfield at Bagram. A 1,700 man group based around Royal Marines from 45 Commando, was subsequently deployed as Task Force JACANA. Their role was to deny and destroy terrorist infrastructure and interdict the movement of Al Qaida in eastern Afghanistan.

In December 2001 the UK led negotiations to create the International Security Assistance Force (ISAF), and British Major-General John McColl led the first mission with contributions from 16 nations. As well as providing the headquarters and much of the supporting forces for ISAF, the UK contributed the brigade headquarters, and an infantry battalion.

In 2006, the UK took the lead in Helmand Province as part of the ISAF expansion into the south and initially deployed around 3,500 additional forces taking the overall British total to over 4,000. Following the success of Operation PANTHER’S CLAW, which secured more areas of the Afghan population in central Helmand, UK force levels reached 9,500.

An important part of the ISAF and OEF missions in Afghanistan has been to train and build the capacity of the Afghan National Security Forces to enable them to take on more responsibility for security in their own country. In March 2003 we began a highly successful programme to train Junior Non-Commissioned Officers for the Afghan National Army. Since then we have supplemented this with junior officer training on the Sandhurst model in Kabul, and with Operational Mentoring and Liaison Teams in Helmand. Most recently, on 6 July 2011, the Prime Minister, David Cameron, announced UK plans to lead a new Afghan National Army (ANA) Officer Training Academy to be based at Qargha. The UK Armed Forces are world leaders in officer training and are pleased to be able to use their expertise to develop a programme of instruction for the Afghans which will help to develop an enduringly capable Afghan National Army.

In early 2003, the UK deployed its first Provincial Reconstruction Team (PRT) in the North of Afghanistan, in Mazar-e-Sharif and a second was formed later that year. These include staffs from Foreign and Commonwealth Office and the Department for International Development (DfID), who were brought together with around 100 troops to support development programmes alongside local Afghan authorities. UK PRT officials are also working with Helmand authorities to strengthen provincial level democracy and helped establish Helmand 's first legal aid office in November 2008. They are helping the Afghan Provincial Development Committee prioritise its efforts in line with national plans, enabling Afghan-led reconstruction efforts to get off the ground.

Afghanistan is the world's leading supplier of illegal opiates, trafficked as opium, morphine and heroin and over 90% of the heroin on the UK's streets originates from Afghanistan. Along with DFID and USAID, the Helmand PRT has funded Governor Mangal's first provincial counter-narcotics strategy in which 32,000 farmers received wheat seed, as part of a process of transition to legal livelihoods. Afghan poppy cultivation is at its lowest level since 2005, and down by a third from a peak in 2007. This national decrease is reflected in Helmand. By April 2011, seizures in cases relating to the Criminal Justice Task Force had amounted to 5.5 tons of heroin, 385kg of morphine, 26 tons of opium, 89 tons of hashish and 74 tons of chemical precursors. All of these achievements should be seen in the context of the challenge and experience in other drug-producing countries tells us that it may take two decades or more to make the progress genuinely sustainable.

On 6 July the Prime Minister announced that the UK would withdraw 426 UK military personnel by February 2012 and that the UK would be in a position to reduce its force levels by a further 500 – from 9,500 to 9,000 by the end of 2012. These reductions reflect the progress that is being made in building up the ANSF and marks the start of a process which will ensure that by the end of 2014 there will not be anything like the number of British troops there as there are now – and they will not be serving in a combat role, although the UK will continue to have a continuing military relationship.

On 20 July 2011 British troops formally handed the lead responsibility for security to Afghan forces in the capital of Helmand province, Lashkar Gah. This is a significant milestone in a process of transition that will continue to 2014 and beyond. Lashkar Gah is the fourth of seven districts across Afghanistan where responsibility for security is gradually shifting from ISAF forces to their Afghan counterparts. British forces will stay in the remainder of central Helmand province where they will continue to develop the capability and capacity of the Afghan National Security Forces (ANSF).  The UK remains committed to the long term alliance with the people of Afghanistan.

IRAQ

UK combat forces withdrew from Iraq in July 2009. Under the UK/Iraq Training and Maritime Support Agreement which entered force in November 2009, the Royal Navy has continued to play a role in training the Iraqi Navy to defend its territorial waters and offshore oil infrastructure, upon which the nation’s economic stability is so dependent. The Royal Navy completed its contribution to the training and maritime support mission in May 2011. The UK will continue to support the NATO Training Mission in Iraq as the second largest contributor, leading on officer education and training including offering officer training back in the UK. This will form part of our strong Defence relationship with Iraq, along with the Defence presence in the British Embassy in Bagdad. Through these efforts, the UK is contributing to a stable Iraq that can meet the security needs of its people and the region.

HISTORY OF UK PRESENCE IN IRAQ

Whatever debate continues about the lead up to the invasion in 2003, whatever coalition mistakes were made along the way, we can be clear on one thing: the UK Armed Forces have made an outstanding contribution to the transition of Iraq from dictatorship and regional pariah to burgeoning democracy and constructive partner. Every one of the more than 100,000 British sailor, marines, soldiers and airmen and MOD civil servants who have served in the theatre – and their families – can be proud of the part they have played in helping to bring southern Iraq, and its security forces in particular, to this point.

Sadly, some who have made the greatest contribution to success are not here today. 178 British Service personnel and one MOD civilian have given their lives during the campaign, and many more have been seriously injured. Every loss is a tragedy, but those sacrifices were not in vain. They have helped to make Iraq a better place for the Iraqi people and, as a consequence, have contributed to the security of the United Kingdom, its citizens and their interests.

At its peak during major combat operations (March/April 2003) there were 46,000 troops deployed in support of Operation TELIC.

The Coalition has trained and equipped over 600,000 Iraqi Security Forces have been trained and equipped by the Coalition.

HISTORY OF NAVAL TRAINING IN IRAQ 

Until May 2011 under the UK/Iraq Training and Maritime Support Agreement (ITMSA), Royal Navy trainers undertook the important task of developing the capacity of the Iraqi Maritime Security Forces to protect their territorial waters and offshore oil platforms, which are vital to Iraq’s economic revival. British Forces had been involved in this task, alongside US Forces, since 2003.

As part of the ITMSA, 69 Royal Navy and Royal Marine personnel alongside a small Army and Royal Air Force, presence have combined with United States Navy, Coast Guard and Marine Corps to train the Iraqi Navy as part of the Iraqi Training and Advisory Mission – Navy Umm Qasr, ITAM-N (UQ).

For the last two years, ITAM-N trainers have worked alongside their Iraqi counterparts, building relationships and working to ensure that by 2012 the Iraqi Navy and Marines are able to assume full responsibility for the security of Iraq’s ports, territorial waters and maritime infrastructure. This includes the protection of Iraq’s two major offshore oil platforms, which generate 85 per cent of the country’s income.

A total of 1800 Iraqi personnel have been trained on 50 different course, including maritime skills, small arms, oil platform defence, and maintenance training. A ‘train the trainer’ focus has also enhanced the Iraqi Navy’s ability to develop an independent and self-sustaining force for the future.

COUNTER PIRACY

The Royal Navy is actively involved in international counter piracy operations around the Horn of Africa, protecting vital shipping lanes and vulnerable shipping lanes, as well as coming to the aid of those under attack.  All its actions are in accordance with international law.

The UK Government response to piracy is shared between three Departments. The Foreign and Commonwealth Office leads on international co-ordination and co-operations as well as negotiating with countries in the Indian Ocean and Gulf of Aden regions to ensure suspected pirates can be prosecuted when there is sufficient evidence; the Department for Transport are the link with the shipping industry and help to set standards that UK ships must follow; and, the Ministry of Defence.

The Ministry of Defence has been actively contributing to counter piracy operations throughout the region. We do this principally by providing Royal Navy ships to the international counter piracy patrols in the Indian Ocean and the Gulf of Aden, supporting three co-ordinated counter piracy operations – the European Union’s Operation ATALANTA, NATO’s Operation OCEAN SHIELD, and the US led Combined Maritime Forces. We currently have a number of ships in the area capable of undertaking counter-piracy activity.

Notably the UK is the lead country for the European Union’s Operation ATALANTA for which we provide the Operation’s command and host the Operation Headquarters (EU NAVFOR) at Northwood, London.

We also host the UK Maritime Trade Organisation in Dubai which supports merchant shipping passing through the dangerous waters by tracking the ships movements and co-ordinating military responses in the event of a pirate attack. They also produce guidance to merchant shipping on best practice, such as keeping a good look-out, following recommended routes, registering their journeys and having a citadel where the ship’s crew can retreat to and be safe if pirates attack.

The issue of piracy is a difficult one as the area of sea through which ships can travel is vast, hundreds of square miles of ocean (an area twice the size of Europe) and to cover all of this area all of the time would be impossible as it would require thousands of ships. This is why tackling piracy is an international effort and there are currently over 25 nations involved in counter piracy operations. Through this unprecedented level of international co-operation and co-ordination the international community does as much as it can to reduce the threat.

The military response, however, is only one part of a much wider approach as there is no purely military solution to the piracy problem. The UK Government continues to support the international approach to the problem which covers all aspects including efforts to improve the humanitarian situation and economic stability of Somalia, training local coast guards to look out for possible pirate activity and seeking ways of ensuring robust legal action can be taken against pirates. We remain focused on ensuring that the international community work with the shipping and insurance industries and regional partners to tackle this problem together.