Finding the fun side of international diplomacy
As with so much else, Brexit dominated the second episode of Michael Waldman’s exquisitely judged Inside the Foreign Office (BBC Two). But it wasn’t the politicians that the spotlight fell on here. Rather it was the manner in which the folk from the Foreign Office contrive to sail the grand old ship of diplomacy on a steady course through choppy international waters.
It opened with a tantalising glimpse of the meeting in London to which FCO chief Simon Mcdonald called all of his ambassadors and high commissioners from around the globe for an “uninhibited” feedback session. Sadly, with cameras present, there was a sense of inhibition in the room, although that didn’t stop our man in Brasilia expressing some entertainingly forthright opinions (“Brazilian politics is as weird and corrupt as the press make out”). Or at least enough to suggest that this could well be one of Whitehall’s most eavesdrop-worthy gatherings.
Meanwhile, the then Foreign Secretary Boris Johnson visited Lisbon and Paris. This provided some of the show’s more amusing moments with diplomats constantly torn between giggling and looking like they were handling a live grenade that could detonate at any moment. Throughout, Caroline Wilson, the FCO’S Director (Europe) was delightfully steely, barely suppressing her horror regarding Mr Johnson’s plans to address the French in their own language or his suggestion that his speech “didn’t have enough gags”.
Less amusing were Waldman’s outings to some of the Foreign Office’s remoter outposts. In Lagos, a celebration of the Queen’s birthday provided the perfect opportunity to watch soft diplomacy in action – lots of champers, chin-wagging and bigging up post-brexit business opportunities.
The most fascinating events unfolded in Mongolia where Ambassador Catherine Arnold and two other British officials strive, through hard graft and charm offensives, to boost British business in a country with a tiny population sitting on some of the world’s greatest mineral resources. Rarely has a clearer picture been painted of how the long tendrils of Foreign Office influence serve the UK’S business interests abroad.
Inside the Foreign Office ★★★★