Tag: foreign policy

10th December 2015 London, UK

Avatar photo

by Daniel Pruce

British Ambassador to the Philippines and to Palau

Why promoting human rights will remain an important part of my career

I gave a radio interview yesterday. Unexpectedly I was asked why I had joined the British Diplomatic Service 25 years ago. In the midst of my off-the-cuff answer I found myself talking about the opportunity to serve, the opportunity to make a positive difference to people’s lives and the chance to make a small contribution […]

Read more on Why promoting human rights will remain an important part of my career | Reply (1)

17th August 2015

Stephen Townsend

Deputy Head of Mission, British Embassy to the Holy See

Diplomatic Uniforms at the Holy See

One of the quirks of being posted to the Holy See is that it is one of the few in the world where Ambassador and Deputy Head of Mission regularly have to wear diplomatic uniforms. It comes as a surprise to many that the Foreign Office has a uniform at all – unless they had […]

Read more on Diplomatic Uniforms at the Holy See | Reply

12th August 2015 London, UK

Avatar photo

by Youth Inspiration Group

A fresh perspective on UK Foreign Policy

Youth to make the change: A fresh perspective to UK Foreign Policy

Taking a selfie on stage at the Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) leadership conference in 2015 left us thinking perhaps we weren’t that photogenic! But, what we were was successful. After months of rehearsals, planning and speaking with some of the most senior voices across the office we had delivered a high impact, fun, energetic […]

Read more on Youth to make the change: A fresh perspective to UK Foreign Policy | Reply

1st July 2015

Avatar photo

by Nigel Baker

Ambassador to the Holy See (2011-2016)

Global networks

This is a networked world. And yet there are few genuinely global networks out there. By that I mean networks that have a capacity to operate globally, co-ordinated centrally but operating in capillary fashion, horizontally in a radial pattern as well as vertically in a hub and spoke model. One of the reasons why we […]

Read more on Global networks | Reply (2)

3rd February 2015

Avatar photo

by Nigel Baker

Ambassador to the Holy See (2011-2016)

Helping Pope Francis

The new Holy See Secretary for Relations with States, Archbishop Paul Gallagher, is well-named. When earlier this week Msgr. Gallagher met the ambassadors accredited to the Holy See, the Deputy Secretary, the Maltese Msgr. Antoine Camilleri, reminded us that the name Gallagher is the anglicisation of the Irish surname Ó Gallchobhair, meaning “foreign help” or […]

Read more on Helping Pope Francis | Reply (1)

13th January 2015

Avatar photo

by Nigel Baker

Ambassador to the Holy See (2011-2016)

The Universal Papacy

The title may have startled you. It was Pope Innocent III, back in the 13th century, who declared that as ‘Vicar of Christ’ the Pope had received from God “not only the universal church but the whole world to govern”. Even at the time, secular rulers begged to differ, leading to centuries of competition for […]

Read more on The Universal Papacy | Reply (1)

11th November 2014

Avatar photo

by Jonathan Allen

Former Ambassador to Bulgaria

Increasing Our Security in an Increasingly Insecure World

Europe is surrounded by an “arc of instability”, in the words of Philip Hammond, the British Foreign Secretary. Bulgaria, responsible for one of the EU’s key external borders, and on the land route to Syria, is in a key position. It is vital that we, Bulgaria’s allies, step up our support. It is just as […]

Read more on Increasing Our Security in an Increasingly Insecure World | Reply

3rd September 2014

Avatar photo

by Paul Madden

British Ambassador to Japan

Foreign Minister Bishop heads to UK for key NATO Summit

I called on Foreign Minister Julie Bishop this morning to touch base before she headed off to the NATO Summit in Newport, Wales, later this week. Australia has worked very closely with NATO and played an important role as the largest non-NATO contributor in the Afghanistan campaign. This relationship will not end with the campaign […]

Read more on Foreign Minister Bishop heads to UK for key NATO Summit | Reply (2)

17th July 2014 Washington DC, USA

Avatar photo

by Amy English

Congressional Liaison for the Foreign and Security Policy Group

Our NATO: Looking back but moving forward

Yesterday marked 50 days to go until we host the NATO Wales Summit. In Parliament, the UK Minister’s for Europe, David Lidington, addressed Parliament on preparations ahead of the Summit, which will be the largest gathering of international leaders ever to take place in the UK. Over 24,000 room nights have been reserved in over […]

Read more on Our NATO: Looking back but moving forward | Reply

12th June 2014

Avatar photo

by Paul Madden

British Ambassador to Japan

#TimeToAct – emblazoned across the Australian sky

I’m not a fan of hot air. Although when you’re floating in a balloon over Australia’s capital city Canberra, and it’s the only thing keeping you up there, you’re rather glad of it. The balloon was emblazoned with the hashtag #TimeToAct. We were drawing attention to the Global Summit on Ending Sexual Violence in Conflict, […]

Read more on #TimeToAct – emblazoned across the Australian sky | Reply