| Author (Corporate) | UK Foreign and Security Policy Working Group |
|---|---|
| Publisher | Chatham House |
| Publication Date | November 2015 |
| Content Type | Report |
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As the new Strategic Defence and Security Review nears completion, the United Kingdom faces a far more unstable world than when it published its last review in 2010. Yet, at the same time, significant cuts have been made to many of the traditional levers of the UK’s influence overseas. While recognising the serious resource pressures that exist, the signatories of this new report argue that Britain’s long-term interests in the world do not change amid temporary economic difficulties. They argue that as one of the most globalised countries in the world, tied by its economy, its people, its institutions and its allies to developments beyond its shores, the UK must remain internationally engaged and committed to multilateralism. The signatories make a number of recommendations to help ensure the UK lives up to its goals as a constructive force in the world, including: + Increase spending on the UK’s overall diplomatic effort in the long-term to 0.2% of GDP. In the short-term it is important to avoid further real terms cuts to the UK's spending on the FCO's non-ODA budget in the upcoming spending review. + Rethink visa policy for international students and commercially-valuable talent, as well as the system of regional visa hubs which mean that decisions on UK visas are often taken in a regional centre by staff with limited knowledge of the country concerned. + Seek more structured and long-term defence collaboration with EU partners and under EU structures. Britain’s continuing determination to block much European defence cooperation does not serve its own interests and no longer finds favour in Washington. + Return in a more significant way to participation in UN peacekeeping. It should also be willing to send UK forces to assist with training and strengthening institutions of civil-military cooperation, for example in fragile states in Africa. The Working Group is made up of leading UK foreign policy and defence experts. |
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| Source Link | https://www.chathamhouse.org/publication/strengthening-britain-s-voice-world |
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| Countries / Regions | United Kingdom |
