i'm don nicholson, director of policy at the administration of defense. >> i'm afraid our numbers are slightly depleted because of the breakdown on tube services, but i hope we will be augmented later on. our first question is from johnny. >> good morning. secretary of state, i was wondering if you could start by outlining, what is the uk's national interest in the middle east and north africa? and to somee east extent north africa are fundamental to this country's security, stability, and its prosperity. we rely on a series of partnerships in the region to help us manage threats from the terrorism, the challenge of migration, but we also need to ensure the energy supplies we rely on our secure, secure, andutes are that is why we maintain in the a credible and persistent defense presents. this is a region which is extremely important to both national security and our economy. >> we have done a lot of traveling around, trying to understand, what is the west's or what is our collective strategy in terms of dealing with the challenges that come out of that part of the world? , inertainly