Foreign Policy
Will Obama and Cameron discuss a faster pullout from Afghanistan?
The political theatre of David Cameron’s trip to America will have Downing Street drooling. The PM is, today, not only going to become the first world leader to fly aboard… Continue reading
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Hague’s ‘Cold War’ warning
William Hague has gazed into his Middle Eastern crystal ball and doesn’t like what he sees. In an interview in today’s Telegraph, he says of Iran: ‘It is a crisis… Continue reading
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Brits sceptical of Syria intervention
Britain’s response to Syria so far has been uncertain and cautious. A YouGov poll today suggests that the public is keen for this hands-off approach to continue. When presented several… Continue reading
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A Syrian Srebrenica?
Every day things are getting worse in Syria. Today the Syrian regime started what looks like an all-out assault on the key city of Homs, reportedly killing at least 55… Continue reading
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Let’s talk about Qatar
The rise of Qatar has been one of the most remarkable developments in the recent history of the Middle East. How this small, oil-rich Gulf state built Al Jazeera and… Continue reading
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The hypocrisy of Cameron’s Saudi trip
A year ago, Tunisian strongman Zine El Abidine Ben Ali fled Tunisia for Saudi Arabia, thus ushering in the Salafi Spring. No doubt now bored out of his mind, this… Continue reading
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Hague’s misplaced optimism
William Hague has an article in the Times today arguing against what he refers to as the ‘pessimism’ of those who have expressed concerns about the direction of the ‘Arab Spring’.… Continue reading
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The Burma trail
Foreign policy specialists have been confused about how to categorise the coalition. Is it neoconservative, given its backing for the Libyan rebels? No, says no less a figure than the… Continue reading
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Dire straits
The situation in the Strait of Hormuz continues to intensify, with Defence Secretary Philip Hammond showing that, like his predecessor, he is not shy of pushing back when he gets… Continue reading
17 CommentsWho is the British foreign secretary?
Officially, of course, the answer to that question is William Hague – who has put in some decent work since assuming office, particularly during the Arab Spring. But, still, I… Continue reading
45 CommentsWoolf tucks into perfidious Albion
Yesterday night’s news that a senior FCO official lobbied Oxford University on behalf of Saif al-Islam Gaddafi adds more ordure to the already fetid story of Britain’s role in Colonel Gaddafi’s… Continue reading
15 CommentsIran lashes out
The pressure is piling up on Iran – from below, as people demand greater freedoms; from the region, where Iran is about to lose its one ally, Syria, to a… Continue reading
15 CommentsGOP to World: Drop Dead
There are many good things in this week’s edition of the magazine and among them, happily, is a piece by Dan Drezner. It’s not online yet so why don’t you… Continue reading
11 CommentsOpening Europe
It is an article of British faith that further liberalisation of Europe’s market is a worthwhile goal. But few people realise the boost the UK economy would actually get from… Continue reading
45 CommentsNo, Barack Obama is not the Second Coming of George McGovern
On the other hand, Rich Lowry – editor of National Review and therefore a man who should know better – offers this pithy analysis of American under Obama: [N]one of… Continue reading
2 CommentsAmendment to EU referendum vote put down
Tonight, George Eustice, David Cameron’s former press secretary, and several other eurosceptic members of the 2010 intake have put down an amendment to the EU referendum motion that will be… Continue reading
24 CommentsGaddafi’s Warning to Other Dictators: Shoot First & Shoot Them All
Now that Colonel Gaddafi is dead, there’s a lot stuff flying about Twitter along the lines of Are you watching Mr Mugabe/Assad/Ahmadinejad? I’m sure they are. Few people are likely… Continue reading
6 CommentsWhat is Labour’s foreign policy these days?
As William Hague found before last year’s election, getting your voice heard on foreign policy is difficult for an Opposition. You are, at best, reduced to providing commentary to on-going… Continue reading
6 CommentsCommercial quandary
Britain’s diplomacy needs to help British business. The Prime Minister made this clear soon after the coalition was formed and William Hague has followed up, reorganising the Foreign Office and… Continue reading
12 CommentsHague’s European dilemma
William Hague’s conference speech caps a revival in his political fortunes, and it also showed how far the government has come since the pre-election period, when Tory foreign policy was indistinct.… Continue reading
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