27 Aug BFPG’s Summer 2025 Review

For BFPG, August has brought a valuable opportunity to reset and regroup after a very busy July, which included the launch of our flagship annual public opinion survey, which, as ever, is full of fascinating insights on the key trends in public perceptions of foreign policy.

This year the survey was launched at One Birdcage Walk, which will be BFPG’s new home – right at the heart of Westminster – for the next 18 months, while 23 Grafton Street is being renovated. While it will be a sad goodbye to Grafton Street, we are looking forward to showing you all our wonderful new premises at our events from September.

In other organisational news, BFPG is now recruiting a Senior Researcher to join the team. Its a brilliant opportunity to be at the heart of the foreign policy debate and I’d strongly encourage a wide diversity of candidates to apply.

We’re Hiring

Job Title: Senior Researcher 

We are delighted to be recruiting for a new Senior Researcher. This is a broad and varied role, offering a unique opportunity to be at the heart of the foreign policy debate at a critical time in global affairs. APPLY HERE

Deadline: 4th September

2025 Annual Survey 

July saw the launch of BFPG’s 2025 Annual Survey of UK Public Opinion on Foreign Policy, the seventh iteration of the Survey which began in 2019.

The findings reveal a sharp shift in public attitudes away from the President Trump-led United States, back towards Europe and the EU. In this shift, Britons hope to find both economic and security solutions to the challenges facing the UK, as Britons adopt an increasingly self-interested approach to foreign policy, on everything from international development to trade, partnerships and global leadership.

We were delighted to officially publish the report at our launch event in July and are grateful to our excellent panel of speakers – Peter Jones CMG, Anand Menon and Aphrodite George-Vamvakopoulou – and to all attendees for joining us to launch the report. We also hosted two heads of mission briefings on the report and will be briefing other key stakeholders over the coming months. Please do get in touch if you’d like to arrange a briefing or to find out more about the report findings

BFPG Analysis

A Pragmatic But Uncomfortable Special Relationship

From shifting political values to diverging public perceptions, BFPG Director Evie Aspinall explores how the UK should navigate a ‘special relationship’ that is strategically essential but increasingly uncomfortable. READ HERE

From Diplomat to Content Creator: How Ambassador’s Roles have Changed Since 2017

BFPG Associate Fellow Michael Martins explores how the role of the ambassador has transformed in recent years, shaped by the rise of digital diplomacy, a shift in public engagement, and an increasingly competitive global information environment. READ HERE

BFPG Events

In July, BFPG was honoured to host the Minister of Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade of North Macedonia, Mr Timcho Mucunski, for an insightful session exploring the role of North Macedonia in its regional stability and prosperity. Thank you to all who attended, and to the Embassy of the Republic of North Macedonia and Ambassador Ms Katerina Stavreska.

BFPG also hosted a panel run by Overton Advisory on the future of European defence and security. BFPG Director Evie Aspinall was joined by Jerzy Boczkowski, Deputy Head of Mission at the Embassy of the Republic of Poland in Lovndon, Calvin Bailey MBE, MP for Leyton and Wanstead, and Michael Martins, Founder, Overton Advisory. The panel shared valuable insights on the shifting landscape of international security and the future of UK-EU defence cooperation.

Keep in Touch

As well as Twitter (X) and LinkedIn, BFPG is now on Bluesky. If you were forwarded this email you can sign up to our mailing list here. If you have any queries or want to know more about BFPG, you can email us at hello@bfpg.co.uk.