01 May BFPG’s April Review
April has been yet another month of geopolitical flashpoints. The world held its breath as the Middle East approached and then retreated from brink of regional war, watched as Russia made critical gains against Ukraine, and saw tensions escalate between the United States and China over Beijing supplying of dual-use items to Moscow.
April also saw the 75th anniversary of NATO, a celebration clouded by the proliferating security challenges the alliance faces (see recent analysis here). April also saw the UK pledge to increase its defence spending to 2.5 percent of GDP by the end of the decade and the United States approve $60.8 billion in long-awaited aid to Ukraine; as the UK and its partners look to shore up their national security in an increasingly insecure world.
Looking ahead and May is set to be another busy month, with UK-wide local elections and a leadership race in Scotland, which will no doubt set the stage for the general election later this year. With defence and migration particularly set to be key voter issues, we look forward to important conversations over the next few months on the role of the domestic sphere in international decision-making – a core focus for BFPG.
In the meantime, take a look at our April review below.
India: Elections and Opportunities
India’s six week long general election has begun, and while there is little doubt that Narendra Modi’s BJP will secure victory, as India’s role on the world stage continues to grow, there is much to consider. Taking stock of the context behind India’s ongoing general election, BFPG’s Senior Advisor David Landsman explores what a UK approach to India fit for the 21st century should look like, both before and after the UK’s own elections.
READ HERE
The South Korean Election: Implications for the UK
South Korea’s opposition party, the Democratic Party (DP), secured a landslide victory in its parliamentary elections earlier this month, presenting President Yoon’s ruling conservative party with the difficult challenge of persuading an opposition of near 190 to pursue its agenda. In the latest piece in BFPG’s 2024 election series, Yuseong Choi explores the impact the election will have on both South Korea and the UK’s foreign policy – including approaches to Europe, China, Russia and more.
READ HERE
75 Years of NATO: Where We Stand
April 4th 2024 marked the 75th anniversary of NATO’s founding. Ahead of the milestone anniversary, Eliza Keogh took stock of the last 75 years of NATO, and explored how the next few decades will test NATO’s values and adaptability more than any time in its history.
READ HERE
Diplomatic Hour Continues
In April we were delighted to host two further events as part of our Diplomatic Hour series. We were delighted to welcome Mr Rüdiger Bohn, the Deputy Head of Mission at the Embassy of the Federal Republic of Germany, London, for a private roundtable, and His Excellency Mr Jukka Siukosaari, Ambassador of Finland for a public conversation.
Both sessions provided fascinating insights into the respective bilateral relationships, as well as wider global challenges. Particular attention was given by Mr Bohn to the role that bilateral defence partnerships will play in the global security outlook, and His Excellency Mr Jukka Siukosaari provided valuable insights on the future of defence cooperation, particularly through NATO, and how to collectively meet global security and economic challenges. We are very grateful for their time and their insights.
BFPG in the Media
Director Evie Aspinall spoke to Sky News about the state of UK-China relations following recent allegations about Chinese state-backed cyber attacks on UK democracy, and to BBC News to mark the 75th Anniversary of NATO, taking stock of its current priorities and exploring what lies ahead for the organisation.
