06 May BFPG’s April 2025 Review
The end of April coincided with the 100th day of President Donald Trump’s second term in office. Throughout those 100 days, the geopolitical fallout from his aggressive “America First” agenda has dominated the global debate and upended the global systems the United States and its allies fought so hard to build. The impact in the UK has been profound, and there are growing calls for the UK to take a tougher approach to President Trump. But the UK must be realistic about its position and strengths in the world. We are no longer a superpower, but we do have unique and valuable assets, not least the enduring nature of the ‘special relationship’. The best thing we can do for ourselves, and our allies, is to continue to work closely with Trump, positioning ourselves as a bridge between the US and the EU. This won’t always be easy but it is essential. You can find full thoughts here.
At the same time, we must look to opportunities to diversify and strengthen our partnerships elsewhere. The UK-EU Summit on the 19th May provides an opportunity to do just that. Last week, BFPG Director Evie Aspinall spoke to the UK Trade and Business Commission, alongside German Ambassador Miguel Berger and Philip Rycroft, former Permanent Secretary for Exiting the EU, about the future of UK-EU ties and what to expect from the summit. Catch up here. Beyond Europe, the UK can – and should – be looking to diversify its partnerships in the Indo-Pacific. If the West fails to cement these ties, China and Russia are more than willing to. It’s a difficult balancing act, and with finite capacity, tough choices are needed, but the months ahead will be crucial in determining the UK’s position in the fast-changing global environment.
Making Britain Relevant Again
Reflecting on this need for the UK to be realistic about its role and status in the world, BFPG Senior Advisor David Landsman argues that the UK must build a more agile foreign policy, cooperating with a wide range of partners. READ HERE
Science and Soft Power
Our Science and Soft Power series, conducted in partnership with the Wellcome Trust, continues at pace and in April we held the second of our roundtables on the soft power of science and how it can be leveraged to achieve the UK’s international ambitions. We’ll have a number of additional events and research in the series in the next few months. If you’d like to learn more or to get involved, please drop us a message.
Elsewhere at BFPG
Other highlights from BFPG this month have included:
– BFPG Senior Research Fellow Dr Rebecca Harding wrote for the Financial Times exploring the need for a defence, security and resilience bank – capable of financing long-term resilience and defence at scale.
– Evie Aspinall contributed to the Council On Geostrategy’s Big Ask about what the UK should prioritise in the National Security Strategy.
– BFPG contributed to a workshop with senior civil servants and academics on how to leverage UK Soft Power.
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