UK defence secretary visits US for urgent talks amid Gaza-Israel crisis

UK defence secretary Grant Shapps has visited Washington DC for urgent talks with his US counterpart Lloyd Austin amid the ongoing Gaza-Israel crisis.

A statement said: "The UK and US stand firm in our shared commitment to uphold international law and protect civilian lives wherever freedom is challenged. That commitment has been clear in the last week as our two countries have led the response to prevent escalation in the Middle East, and support Israel’s right to defend itself - taking all steps possible to minimise civilian casualties."

Shapps also held calls with his Israeli counterpart, Minister Gallant, to set out the UK’s support to Israel and to urge the importance of a proportional response to the situation and spoke with his opposite numbers in Qatar, the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and Egypt to coordinate the response and prevent escalations.

Shapps said: "The UK and US are determinedly standing up to aggressors and terrorists and supporting our friends and partners in the fight for freedom and security.

"Our nations were the first to provide Ukraine with the sustained support they need to beat Russia, and now we’re working alongside regional partners to prevent escalation and protect civilians in the Middle East.

"At such a crucial time for global stability, the urgent talks I have held with Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin, US Members of Congress and my counterparts in the Middle East underline the UK’s enduring commitment to peace and prosperity."

The two defence secretaries discussed the UK and US’s continued support for global security and prosperity, including the Middle East, Ukraine and AUKUS.

The prime minister and foreign secretary have also been travelling across the Middle East to discuss the importance of avoiding escalation and a growing humanitarian crisis.

Rishi Sunak has ordered the deployment of surveillance aircraft and RFA ships to the Eastern Mediterranean to support regional stability and announced the UK will provide a further £10 million in humanitarian aid funding for civilians in the Occupied Palestinian Territories (OPTs).

During his trip, Shapps also visited the National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency (NGA) headquarters in Virginia. The NGA delivers geospatial intelligence for the military service and intelligence professionals, as well as emergency services and has cooperated closely and provided support to the UK for more than half a decade.

Image by Richard Townshend - https://members-api.parliament.uk/api/Members/1582/Portrait?cropType=Thr... https://members.parliament.uk/member/1582/portrait, CC BY 3.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=86684164