PM Sunak delivers his first major foreign policy speech

This week, Rishi Sunak delivered his first major foreign policy speech at the Lord Mayor's Banquet.

- ANTONIA FILMER

As explained by the Rt Hon Lord Mayor of London, Alderman Nicholas Lyons, who proposed a private sector UK Growth Fund of £50 billion or more "to invest in long-term asset classes... in infrastructure, in property, and in private equity... supporting the growth economy, green technology, and renewable," one of the purposes of the city is to provide opportunities to people across the UK and to ensure the city uses its financial firepower for a positive social purpose.

The Prime Minister began his speech by affirming Britain's openness and hospitality to foreigners and that currently in need, including Hongkongers, Afghans, and Ukrainians. He referenced Edmund Burke about the changes that geopolitics has affected, how the UK's adversaries have evolved, and how the UK must counter competitors with "robust pragmatism," strategies to be unveiled in the updated Integrated Review in the New Year. Sunak's pragmatism involves standing by and aiding Ukraine for as long as it takes, reinvigorating European relationships to tackle security and illegal migration (in July 2022, the UK applied to join PESCO's Military Mobility project, this received formal approval at a meeting of EU Defence Ministers on 15 November); and engaging with the new European Political Community without aligning with EU law.