Old friends form new partnerships | Daily News Byte

On Monday, British Foreign Secretary James Smart set out his vision for the future of the UK’s long-term relationship with countries in Asia, Africa and Latin America. Mr Cleverley is keen to develop mutually beneficial partnerships with countries that will become increasingly influential in the future. The Foreign Secretary was clear that this was not an exclusionary vision – it was not about a new group. It is about working with all countries who will shape the future of the international order and with whom we share the fundamental values ​​of sovereignty, territorial integrity and fair economic exchange. He added that we have seen the power of inclusive coalitions and partnerships in delivering, for example, the Black Sea Grain Initiative, where many countries have cooperated to achieve incredibly important results. He added that we may not agree with all countries on everything, but we have cooperated based on mutual interests and shared values.

The UK will build strong diplomatic and economic ties with those countries which will be crucial for the future. New challenges require new partnerships; To combat poverty around the world, reduce conflict deaths and promote growth internationally.

We seek meaningful relations based on mutual benefit and a shared belief in free trade and territorial sovereignty. The UK will therefore seek to promote development, defence, technology, cyber security, climate change adaptation and environmental protection partnerships. The UK’s relationship with the UAE is already on this path. We are old allies with deep and historic ties but our new partnership for the future, which we signed last year, focuses on the priorities of our journey ahead and the global challenges we face while promoting prosperity and security for our citizens. Let’s face it. , and to expand the exchange of knowledge, skills and ideas between our two countries.

The international order built with post-1945 allies, including through the UN, enabled an unprecedented period of peace and prosperity but we live in a critical period when the pace of change is accelerating with hurricane force, and principles are being challenged. That international order, most visibly in the global instability caused by Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, and the global economic damage this has caused around the world.

With rapidly growing populations and an increasing share of global wealth, we know that the countries of the Global South will play a much larger role in shaping the way the world looks in the coming century. They will have a more powerful voice on the global stage and the Foreign Secretary this week outlined Britain’s ambition to build stronger ties with these future partner countries and territories, not just for now, but for decades to come. The UAE bridges both the global North and South and plays an increasingly important role on the international stage, including current membership of the UN Security Council and as host of Cop28 next year.

Trade and investment are central to the UK’s relationship with the UAE. Last year bilateral trade was more than £13 billion (1 per cent of total UK trade). The UAE has committed to a £10 billion sovereign investment partnership in key British sectors and its direct investment in the UK is increasing further. Our trade and bilateral relationship is underpinned by a significant presence of British nationals (over 120,000) and British businesses (over 5,000) based in the UAE.

Through our new and existing partnerships, the UK needs to provide a credible and reliable alternative to countries such as Russia. Of course, the UK will maintain existing solid relationships with allies, but will also look, as we have with allies such as the UAE, to forge new partnerships with influential, increasingly wealthy, countries that are happy to find their own ways. An expanded voice on the world stage. These future powers will be crucial in the coming years and the UK will pursue future-focused mutually beneficial partnerships with them as they do so, through patient diplomacy and bespoke offers of trade, development assistance, expertise, cultural links, security and strong. Bilateral diplomatic relations.

The UK’s offer to these future partner countries will be tailored to their needs and the UK’s strengths and backed up with reliable sources of infrastructure investment.

We know that in the past, we may have been too pragmatic, too impatient. Now we will commit to the long term with strategic endurance and foreign policy, constantly planning for tomorrow, scanning the horizon and preparing ourselves for the next 10, 15 and 20 years. We are clear that we want the UAE to be an equal partner in this journey.

Published: December 14, 2022, 4:00 am