outlined his priorities following his appointment as
Foreign Secretary on 20 July 2026
It is a great honour and privilege to have been appointed by the
Prime Minister to serve as Foreign Secretary.
My parents came to Britain as Jewish refugees from the Nazis. To
them, Britain was both a sanctuary and a beacon of hope in the
global fight against fascism. I will carry my parents' faith in
that spirit of Britain to my role representing our country.
I will be a Foreign Secretary who fights for Britain's interests
and our values of democracy, freedom and the rule of law on the
world stage.
Today, as we face a time of greater instability and threat to
international law and democracy than at any time since the Second
World War, these values are more important than ever.
From Russia's illegal war in Ukraine to conflict in the Middle
East, time and again we have seen the consequences of a more
dangerous world in the cost of living crisis
that families and businesses face.
For Britain, that means we must work with others to defend the
principles that we cherish, because it is in our national
interest to do so, building on the excellent work of my
predecessors and friends, and .
I will seek to deepen and strengthen our strategic alliance with
the European Union which is so important for our prosperity and
security and at the same time nurture our strong, enduring and
essential alliance with the United States. I will uphold our
commitment to multilateral institutions from NATO to the UN as
well as working with global partners, particularly in the Global
South.
Pursuing our interests and values means continuing to stand
shoulder to shoulder with the people of Ukraine against Russia's
illegal invasion, as Britain has done for the last four years. It
means playing our part to seek to end the conflict in Iran and
fully reopen the Strait of Hormuz. It must also mean working
tirelessly to seek a sustainable peace in Palestine and Israel,
including an end to the terrible suffering of the people of Gaza
and security for the people of Israel.
The FCDO I lead will also be at the forefront of issues which
pose profound and substantial threats to justice and equality in
Britain and across the world. We will work with others on
tackling the climate crisis, strengthening our partnerships for
international development, and reforming our international
institutions so they deliver for all countries, including the
world's poorest people.
FCDO is a great British institution filled with talented, expert,
and committed staff who do crucial consular work for our country
and have reach across the world. I look forward to working with
Britain's world-class network of embassies, diplomats, civil
servants, businesses, and cultural organisations to represent and
promote the interests and values of our great country.
