Explore short, accessible pieces of analysis, research and commentary, on topical issues related to foreign policy and our changing world.
Theresa May’s Brexit speech underscores need for British Foreign Policy Group
The Prime Minister’s Brexit speech has inevitably attracted a huge amount of attention to the broad terms of the UK’s negotiating position with the EU 27. Somewhat less attention has been given to the broader vision for the UK post-Brexit -a ‘Global Britain’ – ‘a great global trading nation’ which seeks to ‘get out into the wider world’. This is perhaps inevitable given the level of interest and concern over the terms of Brexit, but it is another reminder of how such relentless focus on our rela
Foreign Secretary’s first policy speech: Strong on sentiment, weak on rationale
Foreign Secretary Boris Johnson spoke on Friday morning in the first of a series of foreign policy speeches he intends to make to lay out his vision for ‘Global Britain’ – a UK that is outward looking, assertive and engaged internationally and that ‘refuses to be defined’ by the decision made to leave the European Union. Overall the speech was useful in that it was a rousing call for greater UK engagement internationally but it also demonstrated the distance we still have to travel in putting fl
Brexit makes Gibraltar even more important to the UK
Brexit has been a catalyst for the UK to re-think and re-establish its role in the world. It has also led Spain to continue pushing forward it plans for joint sovereignty of Gibraltar with renewed vigour. Gibraltar, much like the rest of the UK’s overseas territories, represents a unique asset that plays a crucial part in maintaining and developing the UK’s role in the world. There are 4 primary reasons why we should care.
PM’s vision for a global Britain needs to be backed by resources
It is telling that precious little news coverage of Theresa May’s foreign policy speech at the Mansion House on Monday referred to her central theme. The Prime Minister spoke about her support for globalisation, but the need to humanise it in a manner which many on both left and right would largely recognise and embrace.
Conserving the UK’s strategic interests in the case of a Trump presidency
A Trump presidency would require a radical re-think of the UK’s relation with the US. The UK cannot afford and indeed would not want to make any knee-jerk reaction to its relationship with our most important ally.
Beyond Brexit – Addressing The UK’s Capacity to Engage Globally
The vote to leave the European Union has understandably caused deep emotive reactions, and many of the initiatives, interventions and ideas promoted amongst prominent supporters on both sides demonstrate this, being calls to either find ways of maintaining as many links with the EU as possible – as with Common Ground, or to defend and maintain the aspirations and aims of those who led the leave campaign as with Change Britain
