BRITAIN COMMITS TO DEDICATED FOREIGN POLICY POSITION

THE UK government made its first major commitment to support UN Security Council reforms and India’s permanent membership within it, as part of a refreshed defence and foreign policy review tabled in parliament on Monday (13).

The Integrated Review Refresh 2023: Responding to a More Contested and Volatile World builds on the 2021 review (IR2021) which had an Indo-Pacific tilt at its heart.

In the review, the UK states that it believes the Indo-Pacific is no longer just a tilt, but a permanent pillar of Britain’s foreign policy, in view of the free trade agreement (FTA) with India.

“Moving beyond IR2021, the UK will support reform of the UN Security Council (UNSC) – and would welcome Brazil, India, Japan and Germany as permanent members,” the review said.

Downing Street said it marked an important policy evolution, just as the Integrated Review Refresh 2023 (IR2023) was tabled in the Commons by foreign secretary James Cleverly.

“On the UN Security Council, this is the first time we have it within a UK policy document and putting it before parliament that we will support UNSC reforms,” prime minister Rishi Sunak’s spokesperson on foreign affairs said at a Downing Street briefing.

“That is an evolution in the UK’s position. We also say we support permanent African membership.”

On India, IR2023 further commits to building on the bilateral Comprehensive Strategic Partnership, implementing the UK-India 2030 Roadmap and supporting India’s G20 presidency.

Advancing negotiations on a FTA, strengthening the bilateral defence and security partnership and leading the maritime security pillar of India’s Indo-Pacific Oceans Initiative are also on the agenda.

“India is very firmly a key priority relationship for us. We are very clear that we are going to keep developing the 2030 Roadmap and working towards an FTA,” the Downing Street spokesperson added.

“We have really welcomed the increasing depth of the relationship over the last couple of years and are clear about developing that as part of our broader posture.”

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