UK Foreign Policy

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Map of the states with embassies and permanent missions of the United Kingdom on their territories
Map of states with embassies and permanent missions in the United Kingdom

The foreign policy of the United Kingdom represents the values, goals and interests of the United Kingdom and is primarily shaped by the history of the country as the core territory of the British Empire , which, through its position as a sea and colonial power, held a leading position in world politics.

The break character of the Second World War , from which the country as a member of the Allies as victors emerged, accelerated the decolonization after the war. Great Britain remained some overseas territories (for example the Falkland Islands or Diego Garcia ). After the colonial rule of the United Kingdom, which lasted for centuries, with various political, economic, legal, administrative and linguistic influences from British culture around the world, it has mostly good relations with the Commonwealth of Nations .

Despite a sharp relative loss of power over the second half of the 20th century, the United Kingdom continues to occupy a leading position of great power . It is a permanent member of the UN Security Council and NATO . For several decades it was also a member of the European Union . The country's “ special relationship ” with the United States plays a major role, but its nature and extent are controversial.

Institutions

National Security Council

Foundation and composition

On 12 May 2010, the after took the American model embodied National Security (National Security Council) , led by the Acting National Security Adviser Peter Ricketts on his work. The purpose of the body, which is part of the general Cabinet Office, is to coordinate all aspects of UK foreign, security and defense policy. Permanent members of the National Security Council are the Prime Minister and his deputy , the Chancellor of the Exchequer , the foreign , defense , internal , energy security and development aid ministers of the country, as well as the Supreme Secretary of State of the Chancellor of the Treasury, the State Secretary of the Minister of the Interior for Security Affairs and the Cabinet Secretary for Government Affairs . If necessary, the committee can call in other cabinet members.

Security policy concepts and basics

At the beginning of its work, the National Security Strategy (NSS) aimed to conceptualize and consolidate British security policy, as well as the development of priorities for ensuring security. To this end, the committee developed four hierarchically arranged paradigms of security policy. In descending order, these are the strategic context of British security policy; their goals; the means to achieve this, and ultimately the resources available to do so. A National Security Strategy should address the context and objectives of UK security policy, while a defense policy and long-term defense budget report should address funds and resources. The Cabinet Office of the previous government, led by Gordon Brown , had already issued a national security strategy in March, but without the institutional support of the not yet established Security Council.

In October 2010, the British government published the country's second National Security Strategy and a defense policy document with a special focus on imminent savings, the Strategic Defense and Security Review ( SDSR , German for example: "Review of the current defense and security policy ”). In principle, the National Security Strategy aimed to protect against a steadily expanding range of security risks while at the same time influencing the international security situation in the long term in favor of the political, diplomatic, economic, legal and military means available. Under the term of the National Risk Register (German, roughly: "National Risk Catalog"), the first NSS already included a list of all security risks recorded up to that point, weighted according to effect and probability.

The Strategic Defense and Security Review already took a high priority when David Cameron's conservative-liberal coalition government took office as part of its determined austerity course. As the publication date approached, the British public, accompanied by penetrating details in the press, increasingly took part in the debate about the project. When the document was published, both public and professional criticism prevailed. In a non-representative survey by the think tank RUSI , which plays a central role in defense policy deliberations and approaches, more than 2,000 members of the country's security policy elites agreed with the basic concern of the SDSR , but they were very critical of the details .

Foreign Ministry

see Foreign Office and List of British Foreign Ministers .

Relations of Special Interest

Commonwealth of Nations

  • Today's Commonwealth realms
  • Former Commonwealth realms

    • The Queen is the head of state in 16 of the 53 Commonwealth countries . These areas are called the " Commonwealth Realm ".

    In general, the EU has priority over the Commonwealth for British foreign policy because of the much more sharply delimited interests. For example, she spoke out in favor of the culturally related countries Australia and New Zealand for the French nuclear weapons tests in the South Seas. Zimbabwe was excluded due to the authoritarian leadership of Robert Mugabe , as was Pakistan, which was allowed to return.

    In principle, all Commonwealth countries can retain their memberships if they choose to become republics as long as they remain democratic.

    European Union

    After the Second World War , the United Kingdom gave up its policy of “ balance of power ”, ie the equalization of the balance of power on the continent, in favor of long-term cooperation with its European neighbors. Since then, the country has had positive ties to the European Union and its members. Criticisms included the UK's refusal to introduce the euro, the European Union's agricultural policy and, for some countries, its close ties to the USA.

    After a referendum in 2016 , the United Kingdom left the European Union in 2020 . Future relations with the EU are to be negotiated in a transitional phase after the exit.

    Germany

    The United Kingdom and the Federal Republic of Germany shared the need for security vis-à-vis the Soviet Union , so that a friendly partnership grew out of the relationship that was strained by the Nazi era . Hundreds of thousands of British soldiers have been stationed on German soil since World War II, and the United Kingdom allowed Germany to reunite. The opposing views on the Iraq war were a minor burden .

    France

    Despite centuries of hereditary enmity, France and the United Kingdom have enjoyed good relations due to two world wars fought together. Opinions differ, however, because of the Iraq war and the common agricultural policy.

    Ireland

    The United Kingdom is on friendly terms with the Republic of Ireland and is working intensively with it to resolve the Northern Ireland conflict . Under the Ireland Act of 1949 , Irish citizens are treated in UK territory as if they were Commonwealthy nationals, and not as foreigners. With the conclusion of the Good Friday Agreement , Ireland renounced its claim to territory in Northern Ireland.

    United States

    Cyprus

    Cyprus is a former British colony. The United Kingdom's armed forces operate two bases there. In addition, the United Kingdom guarantees the independence of the Republic of Cyprus .

    Membership in international organizations

    literature

    • Wolfgang Gieler & Moritz Botts (eds.) (2007): Foreign policy of European states, from Albania to Cyprus. Political science text and study books. Scientia Bonnensis 2007, ISBN 978-3-940766-01-4
    • Michael Hughes: British Foreign Secretaries in an Uncertain World, 1919-1939 . Routledge 2005, ISBN 978-0-203-31004-5
    • Imke Henkel: A kingdom becomes a province . April 2015, online

    Supporting documents and comments

    1. ↑ cf. Cabinet Office: Establishment of a National Security Council ( Memento March 17, 2011 on the Internet Archive ), May 12, 2010. Accessed April 11, 2011.
    2. ^ Cabinet Office: National Security Council - Who's Who , undated. Accessed April 11, 2011.
    3. ↑ a b see: Fact Sheet 1: Our Approach to the National Security Strategy ( Memento from 20101020010705), undated. Accessed April 11, 2011.
    4. ↑ Royal United Services Institute : RUSI SURVEY: SDSR was a 'lost opportunity' according to two-thirds of defense and security community ( Memento of February 7, 2011 in the Internet Archive ), October 28, 2010. Accessed April 11, 2011.