Written questions by MacDonald.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what diplomatic steps he is taking to help improve the UK’s relationship with Greece.

The UK-Greece relationship is strong and deep across many shared interests. From our work together in the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO), to tackling shared the challenge of migration, to joint efforts to resolve and deescalate the crisis in the Middle East and war in Ukraine.The UK and Greece signed a Strategic Bilateral Framework in 2021 to strengthen cooperation in twelve areas including foreign policy, defence, trade, migration and maritime security. The Government has engaged with Greece regularly at leader and Foreign Ministerial level to progress this cooperation. I met with my counterpart, Minister Papadopoulou, most recently through a productive bilateral meeting in New York in the margins of Cyprus 5+1 talks, where we discussed cooperation as co-guarantor powers on Cyprus, and as NATO allies in supporting Ukraine. I also met Foreign Minister Gerapetritis.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what steps he is taking to help strengthen the UK’s relationship with Ireland.

The UK and Ireland are uniquely linked through shared geography and history: we have undergone a reset of our relationship, restoring a partnership of trust. Our relationship continues to go from strength to strength.This was cemented at the UK-Ireland Summit in March, where the Prime Minister and Taoiseach agreed an ambitious vision for UK-Ireland relations through to 2030, covering areas including growth, security, energy, conflict prevention, cyber, research, and culture, that will bring our two Governments even closer together in delivering for our citizens. The Foreign Secretary visited Dublin in October 2024, spoke to Tánaiste Simon Harris by telephone on 27 January and met him at the G20 summit on 21 February. On 3 July 2025, I met with my counterpart Minister Thomas Byrne in Dublin to discuss further opportunities to enhance UK-Ireland cooperation.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what steps he is taking to help strengthen the UK’s relationship with Andorra.

The UK and Andorra have a close bilateral relationship, and celebrated 30 years of diplomatic relations in 2024 with an event where Andorran Prime Minister Espot spoke alongside our Ambassador to Andorra. We agreed a Youth Mobility agreement in 2024, and in February 2025 signed a Double Taxation Agreement which should come into force in 2026. We continue to explore further areas of cooperation.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what steps he is taking to help strengthen the UK’s relationship with Belgium.

The UK has a strong and enduring relationship with its close neighbour and North Atlantic Treaty Organization ally, Belgium. The strength of this relationship was reaffirmed by the visit of Deputy Prime Minister Maxime Prévot on 2 July to London where he met the Foreign Secretary, the Minister for the Cabinet Office and the Minister for Africa. We are deepening our foreign policy collaboration to intensify pressure on Russia, reinforce our support for Ukraine, promote peace and stability in the Middle East and Central Africa, tackle irregular migration, increase law enforcement cooperation and promote economic growth.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what diplomatic steps he is taking to help improve the UK’s relationship with Austria.

The UK maintains strong and enduring ties with Austria. A Joint Vision Statement was signed in 2023 to deepen cooperation across foreign and security policy, on economic issues and in encouraging people-to-people links. Consultations between the UK and Austria on the Vision Statement are held annually, with the last such meeting held in June 2025. Cooperation on migration and security has also been formalised over the last two years, including following up on the Joint Statement on tackling illegal migration in May 2024. The Prime Minister wrote to his opposite Chancellor Stocker on his appointment in March 2025, the Foreign Secretary spoke to Foreign Minister Meinl-Reisinger in March and I engaged Europe Minister Plakolm in May.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what diplomatic steps he is taking to help improve the UK’s relationship with Slovakia.

Slovakia is a valued partner and North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) ally of the United Kingdom, and we work closely on shared priorities, highlighted by our declaration of intent on law enforcement cooperation. As with any bilateral relationship, differences exist, in particular in our respective approaches to Russia and Ukraine. Where we have concerns we address them openly, and the UK Government maintains regular contact with its Slovak counterparts. The Prime Minister recently met President Pellegrini at the NATO Summit in The Hague in June. The Foreign Secretary last engaged with Foreign Minister Blanar in December, and I have held several discussions this year with State Secretary Marek Eštok.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what diplomatic steps he is taking to help improve the UK’s relationship with Slovenia.

Slovenia remains a key partner and North Atlantic Treaty Organization ally for the United Kingdom, and we cooperate on many key priorities including Russia-Ukraine and the Western Balkans. We signed a Joint Statement of Intent signed in 2022 and we maintain a yearly Strategic Dialogue with Slovenia, last held on 27 March 2025, which provides an opportunity to discuss a range of bilateral and international priorities. The Foreign Secretary met Foreign Minister Fajon on 21 November 2024 where they discussed the full range of the bilateral relationship. Foreign Minister Fajon also met with the Minister for Africa to discuss UN Security Council cooperation, and with the Minister for the Cabinet Office to discuss the EU reset. This built on my visit to Slovenia for the Bled Strategic Forum in September 2024. I have regularly engaged with and met my counterpart Marko Stucin.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what diplomatic steps he is taking to help improve the UK’s relationship with Latvia.

The UK maintains strong and enduring ties with Latvia across a broad range of bilateral files. We work closely together as North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) and Joint Expeditionary Force (JEF) allies, and are deepening cooperation at the United Nations as Latvia prepares to join the Security Council for the first time in 2026-27. The Prime Minister met Prime Minister Siliņa in Oslo in May at the JEF Leaders Summit, and the Minister for the Cabinet Office met Foreign Minister Braže in March. I hosted State Secretary Viļumsons in March.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what diplomatic steps he is taking to help improve the UK’s relationship with Lithuania.

The UK maintains strong and enduring ties with Lithuania across a broad range of bilateral files. We work closely together as North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) and Joint Expeditionary Force (JEF) allies. The Prime Minister met President Nausėda in Oslo in May at the JEF Leaders Summit, and the Foreign Secretary hosted Foreign Minister Budrys in London in March. I also hosted Foreign Minister Budrys in March.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what recent diplomatic steps his Department has taken to help promote freedom of religion or belief in south Asia.

The UK champions freedom of religion or belief (FoRB) for all, and that no one should live in fear because of their religion or belief.On 8 July, the Government launched its new strategy on FoRB. Its overarching goal is to reduce the number of countries in which the right to FoRB is significantly curtailed, and to promote internationally the right to FoRB as fundamental to human flourishing.Across the world, including South Asia, the UK is taking targeted action and raising the right to FoRB with counterpart governments. For example, in Pakistan, our Aawaz II programme has reached over 35 million people with information about rights and government services. Through the John Bunyan Fund, we have improved Pakistani Parliamentarians' understanding of the laws used to persecute minorities and explored avenues for reform. In March and June this year, the Minister for the Middle East raised concerns about FoRB with Pakistani ministers.In Afghanistan, Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office officials regularly press the Taliban to respect the human rights of all Afghans. We continue to support the UN Special Rapporteur and his mandate to document human rights abuses in Afghanistan, including against minority groups.Working with the Special Envoy for FoRB, David Smith MP, we are championing the right to FoRB and promoting tolerance and mutual respect through our engagement in multilateral fora - including our position at the UN and Article 18 Alliance - and through our important bilateral work.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what recent discussions he has had with his counterparts in other European countries on promoting freedom of religion or belief.

We continue to highlight Freedom of Religion or Belief (FoRB) violations and abuses on the international stage, through our position at the UN, G7 and as an active member of the Article 18 Alliance, ensuring joint international action on FoRB, including with our European partners.The UK Special Envoy on FoRB has visited the UN Human Rights Council in Geneva twice this year, taking part in an interactive dialogue with the UN Special Rapporteur for FoRB in June and speaking at a UK-hosted event on Tibetan Buddhism in July, which several European partners co-sponsored.On 8 July, the Minister for Africa and the Special Envoy publicly set out the Government's approach to FoRB, providing a framework for UK engagement, at an event attended by over 100 stakeholders, including representatives of the European diplomatic community.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what diplomatic steps he is taking to help improve the UK’s relationship with Norway.

The UK maintains strong and historic ties with Norway across a broad range of bilateral files. We work closely together as North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) and Joint Expeditionary Force (JEF) allies, and our cooperation has deepened further following the Prime Minister signing the Norway-UK Strategic Partnership in Bergen on 16 December 2024. There have been several Ministerial visits between Norway and the UK, including two visits by the Foreign Secretary to Norway in September 2024 and May 2025, I visited in October 2024, and an inward visit by Foreign Minister Barth Eide took place in December 2024. A Green Industrial Partnership was also signed by Energy Ministers in May 2025.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what steps he is taking to help strengthen the UK’s relationship with Sweden.

The UK maintains strong and enduring ties with Sweden across a broad range of bilateral files. We work closely together as North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) and Joint Expeditionary Force (JEF) allies and Sweden was among the first countries the Foreign Secretary visited in July 2024. Most recently, the Foreign Secretary hosted Foreign Minister Stenergard on 1 May and the Prime Minister then hosted Prime Minister Kristersson at No 10 on 12 May. I also hosted State Secretary Hartelius and State Secretary Danielsson in March and Minister for the Cabinet Office, Nick Thomas Symonds, visited Stockholm the same month. We continue to engage our Swedish counterparts regularly at all levels.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what steps he is taking to help strengthen the UK’s relationship with Estonia.

The UK maintains strong and enduring ties with Estonia across a broad range of bilateral files. We work closely together as North Atlantic Treaty Organization and Joint Expeditionary Force allies, and the UK leads the enhanced Forward Presence at Tapa, supporting regional security. The Prime Minister met Prime Minister Michal in Oslo in May at the Joint Expeditionary Force Leaders Summit, and the Foreign Secretary met Foreign Minister Tsahkna in Warsaw in May. I hosted Secretary General Vseviov in March.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what diplomatic steps he is taking to help strengthen the UK’s relationship with Italy.

The UK enjoys a strong, historic relationship with Italy across a broad range of bilateral files. We work closely together through NATO, the G7 and G20 on key foreign policy and defence priorities, including support to Ukraine and conflict in the Middle East. Most recently, Prime Minister Meloni visited the UK on 2 March for the 2025 London Summit for Ukraine, which included a bilateral meeting with the Prime Minister. Their Majesties' State Visit to Italy (7-10 April) further deepened ties, focusing on sustainability, defence, and cultural links. The Foreign Secretary continues to engage regularly with Foreign Minister Tajani at summits such as the G7 (March), NATO (April), and co-chaired a migration event at the Munich Security Conference (February). I also visited Italy on 12 June for the Weimar+ meeting and met Deputy Foreign Minister Cirielli.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what steps he is taking to help strengthen the UK’s relationship with Finland.

The UK maintains strong and enduring ties with Finland across a broad range of bilateral files. We work closely together as North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) and Joint Expeditionary Force (JEF) allies. Most recently, the Foreign Secretary hosted Foreign Minister Valtonen on 4 February and the Prime Minister hosted President Stubb at No 10 on 31 March. I also hosted State Secretary Rajala in March. I am due to visit Helsinki for the 50th anniversary of the Helsinki Final Act later this month, where I expect to continue bilateral discussions with my ministerial counterparts.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what steps he is taking to help strengthen the UK’s relationship with Germany.

The UK maintains a strong relationship with Germany. We work closely together bilaterally, as North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) and G7 allies, and through other formats such as the E3. On 17 July, we signed a landmark Bilateral Treaty with Germany, building on our strong defence and security ties and expanding cooperation across key shared priorities - including foreign policy, migration, economic growth, organised crime, and science and technology. We also signed the Trinity House Agreement in October 2024. Germany was the first country the Foreign Secretary visited in July 2024. The Prime Minister last visited Berlin in October 2024. Chancellor Merz and Foreign Minister Wadephul visited London on 17 July, and we engage frequently at Ministerial level. I have visited Berlin on a number of occassions and hosted Lander representatives here in London from Bavaria and North Rhine-Westphalia in recent months.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what recent diplomatic steps his Department has taken to help promote freedom of religion or belief in Nigeria.

The Government is deeply concerned about the ongoing violence in Nigeria's Middle Belt and we express our sincere concern for all those impacted. The root causes of intercommunal violence are complex and often linked to land disputes, historical tensions, and criminal activity. While religion is not a causal factor in these conflicts, the impacts are felt acutely by religious communities, including hindering people's ability to practice their faith freely. The UK supports all affected communities, regardless of faith or ethnicity, and is working through programmes like Strengthening Peace and Resilience in Nigeria and the UK-Nigeria Security and Defence Partnership to promote peace, strengthen local institutions, and protect civilians. The UK remains committed to defending Freedom of Religion or Belief (FoRB), with Nigeria a priority country under the new FoRB strategy, and we will continue to raise this issue in our engagements with Nigeria.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what steps he is taking to help strengthen the UK’s relationship with France.

The Government is committed to strengthening its close partnership with France, a commitment that was reaffirmed during President Macron's State Visit on 8-10 July and the UK-France Summit with groundbreaking agreements on migration, defence, growth and culture. We are further enhancing foreign policy cooperation to increase pressure on Russia and support Ukraine, support stability in the Middle East, increase coordination in the Western Balkans, Moldova, and the Indo-Pacific, and combine efforts on development and global issues.I attended the UK-France Summit with the Prime Minister and President of France on 10 July. Please see the joint declaration (https://www.gov.uk/government/news/uk-france-leaders-declaration) for further details.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what steps he is taking to help strengthen the UK’s relationship with Portugal.

The UK maintains strong and enduring ties with Portugal across a broad range of bilateral files. The Foreign Secretary last met with his Portuguese counterpart Foreign Minister Rangel when he visited Lisbon in March earlier this year. I last met with my Portuguese counterpart Secretary of State Domingos when I visited Lisbon in January. Both visits discussed how we can continue to effectively implement the UK-Portugal Joint Declaration.