Britain Launches Strategic Foreign Policy Reviews

Britain’s foreign office has launched three strategic reviews of its foreign policy, saying it wanted to strengthen the country’s global impact and would deliver the outcomes of the reviews by the end of the year.

The three external expert-led reviews will look at how to ensure Britain’s diplomatic relationships allow it to respond to geopolitical shifts, how to get the most out of its aid development work, and how to mesh foreign policy with the country’s economic and trade ambitions.

“These reviews will help us shape our strategy to increase the UK’s global impact, build growth internationally, and ensure development and diplomacy work hand in hand,” said Foreign Secretary, David Lammy.

The Labour government, in power since July, previously said long-term peace and security in the Middle East would be an immediate focus of its foreign policy.

It also wants to reset Britain’s relationship with the European Union, and has said that its commitment to NATO is “unshakeable”.

REUTERS/Christopher Ojilere