Archive: Foreign Policy

Scotland foreign policy 'needs more than goodwill'

Scotland may be celebrating independence in 2014 but MPs say their foreign policy has significant gaps.

A group of MPs have criticised the Scottish government's proposed foreign policy plans should they gain independence.

Miliband appeals to 'progressive' Scotland

Scotland begins independence 'conversation'

Scotland and Wales: Ten years on

Analysis: Ecuador embassy row shows bullying and diplomacy just don't mix

Police officers continue their long wait for Julian Assange outside Ecuador's embassy in London

The Assange standoff at the Ecuadorian embassy suggests that things haven't changed much since a century or more ago, when our preferred method of resolving a diplomatic dispute was to send in a gunboat or two.

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World's richest 'hiding £12.5tn offshore'

Wealth held offshore could cancel developing world debt

The world's "increasingly borderless" economy has helped rich individuals 'hide' over £12.5 trillion in offshore accounts, it has emerged.

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Foreign Office shoestring close to snapping

William Hague's Foreign Office spends less than 1% of the government's overall budget

Britain cannot continue managing its foreign policy on a "shoestring", MPs are warning, on a day of significant developments on the world stage.

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UK military's overseas clout 'diminished'

The British military's ability to conduct another operation like last year's intervention in Libya will be hampered by cuts, according to MPs.

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Bruised UK seeks more Iran sanctions

Britain is calling on European foreign ministers to intensify economic sanctions against Iran, one day after expelling the country's diplomats from the UK.

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Cameron 'proud' after Gaddafi death

Libyan NTC troops celebrate Muammar Gaddafi's death

David Cameron has spoken of his pride in Britain's role in removing Muammar Gaddafi from power, after confirmation of the renegade leader's violent death.

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William Hague speech in full

William Hague: 'When the hour of crisis came, our prime minister had the steel'

Read William Hague's speech to the Conservative party conference in full, on politics.co.uk.

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UK govt 'weak on propaganda'

Winning over local populations isn't just about military might

Ministers and officials need to recognise the importance of strategic communications, a thinktank has urged.

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Cameron's place on world stage 'uncertain'

David Cameron has struggled to carve a place on the world stage, IISS says

David Cameron lacks a cohesive foreign policy, according to the International Institute of Strategic Studies (IISS) thinktank.

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Cameron ready to intervene again

PM says he's prepared to use UK force again

Britain is prepared to launch another military intervention where circumstances permit, David Cameron has said.

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Comment: Lessons for Libya from Iraq and Afghanistan

Gerard Russell is a senior associate at the Foreign Policy Centre and served as a British diplomat in Iraq (2005-6) and Afghanistan (2007-9).

As Libya approaches a new dawn we must appreciate that some things will go wrong. However whilst we should help the Libyans, we should be careful not to interfere.

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Afghan exit plan criticised by ex-defence secretary

Afghanistan withdrawal motivated by election timetable

Withdrawals from Afghanistan should not take place in line with election timetables, former Labour defence secretary George Robertson has said.

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Trade trumps human rights as Chinese premier visits

Chinese premier Wen Jiabao with David Cameron

Whitehall officials are firmly focused on improving Britain's trade links with China as Wen Jiabao visits London - to the frustration of human rights campaigners.

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Comment: Wen Jiabao's smile shields cruelty

Edward McMillan-Scott (LibDem, Yorkshire & Humber) is European Parliament Vice-President for Democracy and Human Rights.

When David Cameron shakes the hand of Chinese premier Wen Jiabao, he shakes the hand of a man who rules the world's largest remaining tyranny.

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UK 'doing the maths' over Syria resolution

UK has nine votes - and could push a vote if it gets two more

Violence in Syria has boosted Britain's hopes of securing a UN security council resolution against Bashar al-Assad's regime, politics.co.uk understands.

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Analysis: Russia proving a tough nut to crack

Russian president Dmitry Medvedev opposes Syria resolution

Russia is unlikely to shift its opposition to a resolution against Syria at the UN security council – however optimistic British diplomats may be.

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Assad speech leaves Hague cold

William Hague calls Bashar al-Assad's speech "unconvincing"

Syrian president Bashar al-Assad's "vague promises" have been criticised by William Hague.

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'Stupid' Cameron blasted over Falklands

Port Stanley, capital of the Falkland Islands

David Cameron's comments that Britain will keep the Falkland Islands have been dismissed as "mediocrity bordering on stupidity" by Argentina's president.

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