A new landmark foreign policy and a national security review will set out the PM’s vision for a stronger, more secure, prosperous and resilient UK in 2030 its been announced.
The new strategy will drive investment in domestic industries like defence, technology and alternative energy.
The Integrated Review of security, defence, development and foreign policy will make the case for a UK international policy that rests on strong domestic foundations – in particular our security, resilience and a robust economy at home.
The Prime Minister said: “The foundation of our foreign policy is who we are as a country: our values, our strengths and – most importantly – our people. So I am determined to ensure we have a foreign policy that delivers for those people. Our international ambitions must start at home, and through the Integrated Review we will drive investment back into our communities, ensuring the UK is on the cutting-edge of innovation and creating an entire country that is match-fit for a more competitive world.”
“The review also recognises the greatest source of strength – at home and abroad – is the Union between England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland. By combining the resources of our Union and pooling the expertise of our citizens in areas such as science and health we have been able to respond to global challenges and project our influence overseas. We will therefore ensure our international policy thinking is driven by the whole UK”.
“The UK is a country with uniquely global interests. While our success internationally is built on domestic foundations, our prosperity is inextricably linked to our integration into the global economic and financial system. With less than 1% of the global population we were the world’s 5th biggest exporter in 2019. We sold £690 billion of goods and services to the rest of the world, sustaining millions of jobs – of which three quarters were outside London. The government will therefore prioritise the creation of an open international order where free trade thrives”.
“We will expand our trading relationships, champion free trade and reinvigorate the World Trade Organisation”.
The UK is currently negotiating Free Trade Agreements with the US, Australia and New Zealand, and we are applying for accession to the CPTPP. These negotiations and others will help realise the government’s manifesto commitment to agree trade agreements with countries covering 80% of UK trade by the end of 2022.
Source: Gov.uk
Published: 15th March 2021