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Nigel Baker

Ambassador to the Holy See (2011-2016)

Part of UK in Holy See

8th November 2013

Diplomatic Cooperation at the Holy See: The Case of UK – Australia

Australia – UK Ministerial Consultation in London, January 2012

Diplomats represent their country’s interests. Traditionally, this leads to barely veiled competition between embassies accredited to third governments: for access, for influence, for commercial contracts. We will occasionally pull together for a common cause – EU embassies often do so as a matter of course – but generally as ‘coalitions of the willing’ rather than in longer term arrangements, even amongst allies.

The context is a little different here at the Holy See. Perhaps it helps that none of us has commercial deals to make with the Vatican? Or maybe the Holy See’s own diplomatic objective of ‘working for the common good’ helps to lead embassies accredited to the Holy See in more co-operative directions? A good example is the close working relationship between the British and Australian embassies, which also reflects our global strategic partnership, shared and common values, and a willingness at the highest level to find ways of working together to make a positive difference.

There are plenty of examples I could use to illustrate the working relationship between the British and Australian embassies to the Holy See. Here are three:

  • The Arms Trade Treaty, where we engaged jointly with the Holy See to set out our determination to secure a result at the March conference of parties. This led to Holy See support for the talks that successfully delivered a Treaty that will save lives in the future.
  • Close engagement on Syria, in order to raise awareness at the Holy See of work at the UN Security Council where Australia and the UK, alongside others, continue to seek urgently ways to improve access for humanitarian and medical aid for the many displaced civilians suffering from the conflict.
  • Human Trafficking, where we came together recently to help strengthen the operational focus of the 2-3 November conference on Human Trafficking and Modern Slavery held at the Pontifical Academy of Sciences and Social Sciences. This ensured substantial outcomes from the conference, and a broad and representative list of participants, including strong delegations from the UK and Australia.

We’ve also been talking together about Australian-led efforts to introduce the great game of cricket to the Holy See. If there is a match between the Vatican and the Church of England at Lords next year, John McCarthy (the Australian Ambassador) and I will be sitting together. We may not be supporting the same side – there are some matters on which competition is inevitable – yet it will always be in the spirit of great good will.

About Nigel Baker

Nigel was British Ambassador to the Holy See from 2011-2016. He presented his Credentials to Pope Benedict XVI on 9 September 2011, after serving 8 years in Latin America, as…

Nigel was British Ambassador to the Holy See from 2011-2016. He presented his Credentials to Pope Benedict XVI on 9 September 2011, after serving 8 years in Latin America, as Deputy Head of Mission in the British Embassy in Havana, Cuba (2003-6) and then as British Ambassador in La Paz, Bolivia (2007-11). In July 2016, Nigel finished his posting, and is currently back in London.

As the first British Ambassador to the Holy See ever to have a blog, Nigel provided a regular window on what the Embassy and the Ambassador does. The blogs covered a wide range of issues, from Royal and Ministerial visits to Diplomacy and Faith, freedom of religion, human trafficking and climate change.

More on Nigel’s career

Nigel was based in London between 1998 and 2003. He spent two years on European Union issues (for the UK 1998 EU Presidency and on European Security and Defence questions), before crossing St James’s Park to work for three years as The Assistant Private Secretary to His Royal Highness The Prince of Wales. At St James’s Palace, Nigel worked on international issues, including the management of The Prince of Wales’s overseas visits and tours, on the Commonwealth, interfaith issues, the arts and international development.

Nigel spent much of the early part of his FCO career in Central Europe, after an initial stint as Desk Officer for the Maghreb countries in the Near East and North Africa department (1990-91). Between 1992 and 1996, Nigel served in the British embassies in Prague and Bratislava, the latter being created in 1993 after the peaceful division of Czechoslovakia into the separate Czech and Slovak Republics.

Nigel joined the FCO (Foreign and Commonwealth Office) in September 1989. Between 1996 and 1998 he took a two year academic sabbatical to research and write about themes in 18th century European history, being based in Verona but also researching in Cambridge, Paris and Naples. The research followed from Nigel’s time as a student at Cambridge (1985-88) where he read history and was awarded a First Class Honours degree, followed by his MA in 1992.

Before joining the Foreign Office, Nigel worked briefly for the Conservative Research Department in London at the time of the 1989 European election campaign.

Nigel married Alexandra (Sasha) in 1997. They have one son, Benjamin, born in Bolivia in September 2008.

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