01 Jun BFPG’s May 2026 Review
May has been a month of diplomacy. With a deal to end the Iran war and reopen the Strait of Hormuz apparently within reach, President Trump declaring this week that an agreement has been “largely negotiated” and that “the Strait of Hormuz will be opened,” the pressure on the world’s governments to find a way through has been immense, and the UK has been firmly in the room.
On Hormuz, on the 12th May, alongside France, the UK convened defence ministers and representatives from 38 nations to formally establish a multinational defensive mission to protect merchant shipping once conditions allow. Elsewhere, the Foreign Secretary used the Global Partnerships Conference in London to set out a broader vision for British foreign policy: multilateral, partnerships-focused and grounded in the rule of law. She argued that the Hormuz crisis “holds up a mirror to our wider challenges,” emphasising the importance of acting early, in partnership, and tackling the causes of crises rather than simply managing their consequences. It was a timely reminder that, even in a seemingly world shaped by President Trump, there remains space for the UK to forge a path.
On that note, it’s been a busy month for BFPG, reflecting particularly on the UK’s role in international security, with an event with Defence Secretary John Healey, and a conference on national resilience with our friends at Wilton Park. In an increasingly uncertain global environment, we remain committed to forging a clear path for the UK that not only delivers for us on the world stage but at home in the UK too.
Evie Aspinall
Director of the British Foreign Policy Group
Keynote Speech from John Healey
As we await the elusive Defence Industrial Plan, BFPG was pleased to support the Good Growth Foundation in hosting Defence Secretary John Healey as he announced plans to ‘Buy British’ and to use investment in national security to drive growth and provide jobs here in the UK.
At BFPG, we believe that building consent for the UK’s foreign policy is essential to our effective democratic functioning, and that to do so, foreign policy must deliver for Britons domestically too. We were therefore delighted to be able to help deliver this event and help spotlight the growing importance of the intersection between the domestic and the international.
Catch up on the event here.
Strengthening National Resilience
BFPG also convened senior policymakers, security experts, members of industry, and international partners this month for a conference in partnership with Wilton Park on the future of the UK’s national resilience.
With threats driven by global instability, rapid technological change and a greater willingness of hostile actors to target the UK and its allies, the case for a whole-of-society response to national security has never been more urgent.
Discussions focused on how government, institutions and civil society can build that response, exploring how complex risks can be communicated more effectively to the public and drawing on lessons from international partners who have developed their own approaches to preparedness.
This conference is the first in a programme of work BFPG is conducting on the future of national resilience and communicating national security threats. Do reach out if you’d like to be a part of this work.
Soft Power in a Hard Power Era
Amidst all this talk of hard power, BFPG still retains a firm focus on soft power. Senior Researcher Jack Pannell’s latest blog explores why a more turbulent global environment actually necessitates more – rather than less – focus on soft power.
Coming Soon…
This year BFPG launched its student network, delivered in partnership with the British International Studies Association. Next week we’ll be in Brighton to deliver the first ever BFPG-BISA undergraduate network day at BISA’s annual conference, bringing undergraduates from all over the UK the opportunity to engage at the heart of UK foreign policymaking. More details on the network, our UGN day, and how to get involved can be found here.
BFPG is also about to go into the field for our flagship annual public opinion survey, so stay tuned for lots more public opinion research from the BFPG team in the coming weeks!
