The UK’s Ministry of Defence (MOD) provides a range of support and assistance to countries worldwide through the Defence Assistance Fund (DAF) – they do not use the term military aid.

Through the DAF, the MOD supports a variety of Defence Engagement activities designed achieve two aims:

1. Provide practical help and assistance to recipient countries; and
2. Contribute to the UK’s own security objectives by:
   1. Developing defence relations; and
   2. Increasing UK influence .

Assistance can be in the form of:

• The provision of equipment or services;
• Military training and education; and/or
• Building the capacity of the recipient country to address security challenges, both domestically and internationally.

Annual expenditure figures for the DAF:

• 2016/17 £27.32 million.
• 2017/18 £25.35 million.

It is important to that some activity which might fall within the scope of ‘military aid’ may be funded by the Conflict, Stability & Security Fund (CSSF), managed by the National Security Secretariat Joint Programme Hub.

Reference

FOI Request FOI2018/08113 dated 21 August 2018.