What is the Dragon Group?

The Dragon Group refers to a set of defence chiefs from the Gulf and wider Middle East region.

The leadership collective was named after its first meeting on Royal Navy destroyer HMS Dragon in 2018.

It met most recently on 2 December 2021, on board Carrier Strike Group leader and British aircraft carrier HMS Queen Elizabeth.

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The group is symbolic of Britain's longstanding military and security ties with allies in the region.

UK defence, the Ministry of Defence says, has more than 1,000 Armed Forces personnel and representatives in the region, to add to aircraft and sea vessels.

Shared interest is focused on counterterrorism, anti-piracy and anti-smuggling activity.

The Dragon Group meeting on 2 November was the last attended by General Sir Nick Carter before he hands over his Chief of the Defence Staff role to Admiral Sir Tony Radakin.