Diplomatic Hour: A programme of private roundtables and public conversations with Ambassadors and senior diplomats from some of the UK's most important global partners.

Diplomatic Hour launched in January 2024 with a simple idea: that there is real value in creating space for London's diplomatic community to sit down with the people who shape UK foreign policy thinking, and talk openly about the relationships that matter most.

Each event brings together an Ambassador or senior diplomat with a small group of UK-based experts, policymakers, business leaders and civil society voices. The conversations are wide-ranging, covering everything from defence and trade cooperation to regional dynamics and the future of multilateral engagement. Some sessions are held under the Chatham House rule as private roundtables, enabling a more frank exchange. Others are open to a wider audience, giving more people the chance to hear directly from diplomats on the priorities and perspectives of their nations.

Since its launch, the series has welcomed diplomats from across Europe, the Caucasus, the Middle East, the Americas and the Indo-Pacific. The breadth of the programme reflects the diversity of the UK's global relationships, and the range of perspectives that inform how Britain engages with the world.

The UK's bilateral relationships don't operate in a vacuum. They are shaped by public opinion, by the quality of engagement between government and civil society, and by the depth of understanding that exists between the UK and its partners. Diplomatic Hour is our contribution to that understanding. By bringing diplomats and stakeholders together for direct, substantive conversation, we hope to support the kind of mutual engagement that underpins effective diplomacy.