- Prime Minister will deliver a speech on his vision for UK
foreign policy at Lord Mayor’s event this evening.
- He will proclaim 2023 as ‘one of the most significant years’
for British foreign policy in recent times, with the UK forging
new international partnerships on defence, trade and migration.
- Comes against the backdrop of conflict in the Middle East and
Ukraine, where the UK is playing a leading role providing
humanitarian support and assisting allies.
The Prime Minister will make the case for a British foreign
policy rooted firmly in the UK’s values and vision for the future
in an annual foreign policy speech hosted by the Lord Mayor this
evening (Monday).
He will stress the importance of not letting past dogmas,
assumptions and structures get in the way of a brighter future
and a stronger international system.
Addressing diplomats, foreign policy thinkers and business
leaders in London, he will point to the UK’s new international
partnerships and resolute support for our allies as evidence of a
dynamic and forward-looking relationship with the world.
The Prime Minister is expected to say:
“In these dangerous times, we’re not just defending a better
vision of the future against those who would destroy it, we’re
marshalling our expertise, our people and our alliances to bring
that future into being. So we’ll continue to stand up for what is
right…and show that our values will prevail.”
In his speech, the Prime Minister will call 2023 ‘one of the most
significant years’ for British foreign policy in recent times.
Over the last year, the Prime Minister has struck new agreements
with his international counterparts on priorities including
strengthening our defence, boosting trade and tackling illegal
migration.
In just one fortnight this spring, the UK agreed the Windsor
Framework with the EU, published our refreshed foreign and
security policy, and announced the next stage in the AUKUS
partnership with the US and Australia – building one of the most
advanced submarines the world has ever known.
2023 has also seen new migration agreements with France, Italy
and Albania, enhanced strategic partnerships with Japan and
Singapore, and the UK’s accession to the CPTPP – a free trade
area of half billion people.
Earlier this month, the UK hosted the landmark AI Safety Summit,
bringing together leaders from government and industry to broker
the first international statement on the risks of Artificial
Intelligence – something many thought impossible.
Reflecting on these partnerships, the Prime Minister is
expected to say:
“These treaties and alliances speak to something deeper: our
willingness to act, to shape the world, not be shaped by it,
wherever there’s a challenge, wherever there’s a threat, wherever
we can promote peace and security.”
The Prime Minister will point to the UK’s position at the
forefront of NATO, our humanitarian expertise, and our leadership
on the crisis in the Middle East and in support of Ukraine as
evidence of a UK foreign policy driven by our values.
He is expected to say:
“We’re hard-headed about what’s necessary for our interests and
security. But Britain’s realism has always had values and this is
a moment for moral clarity.”
In the week where the UK has confirmed a record 30,000 Ukrainian
troops have been trained in the UK under Operation Interflex and
where more than 50 tonnes of UK humanitarian support has now been
despatched, alongside £57 million of aid funding, to help
Palestinians in desperate need in Gaza, the Prime Minister will
say that the UK’s international leadership is more evident than
ever.
On the Middle East, he is expected to say:
“The UK wrote the original UN resolutions setting out a two-state
solution. We’ve argued for it for decades. But now we must help
make it a reality. So, to the UK’s friends across the region and
to our communities in this country I pledge to redouble British
efforts to this end.”
On Russia’s illegal invasion of Ukraine, he is expected
to say:
“The last year has shown that Russia cannot win… Since their
invasion, Russia has suffered over a quarter of a million
casualties. Half of the territory they seized has been taken
back. And Putin has faced a more united response than he ever
imagined.
“It’s a self-inflicted strategic calamity. Putin’s vain hope is
that we lose patience – but we never will.”
