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Cleverly deploying Britain’s ‘patient diplomacy’ to deal with Russia and China

James Cleverly, the UK’s foreign secretary, will on Monday launch what he calls “patient diplomacy”, aimed at building stronger long-term UK ties with fast-developing nations like Brazil. , Kenya, South Africa and Indonesia.

In her first major speech as foreign secretary, Cleverly will promise to build relationships with countries that are not traditionally strong partners of the UK, in the hope of countering transaction support offered by Russia and China.

Cleverly’s allies acknowledge that Britain cannot match Beijing’s financial might, but argue that the UK can provide mutually beneficial partnerships for countries of common belief. democracy, free trade and the rule of law.

“The UK offer will be tailored to their needs and the UK’s strengths, including trade, investment, development, defence, technology and climate change,” Cleverly will say in a speech at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

“This will be backed by a reliable source of infrastructure investment. So I am determined that we will invest our faith in the countries that will shape the future of the world.”

Skillfully calling it “patient diplomacy,” and his colleagues concede that Britain has traditionally focused its attention on its key allies or, conversely, countries like China or Russia cause trouble. poses some threats.

“There are so many countries in between that we need to focus more on,” said one Cleverly ally.

The foreign minister last week visited Kenya and Ethiopia, declaring that Africa has “always been” part of my life” — his late mother had come from Sierra Leone to London to study nursing.

But he says his trip to sub-Saharan Africa has recognized that the region will be an important growth hub going forward. He wants the State Department to strengthen cooperation with countries in Africa, Asia and Latin America.

Critics will argue that cutting Britain’s recent aid budget from 0.7 percent to 0.5 percent of gross domestic product undermines Cleverly’s goal.

But the secretary of state believes influence could be exerted in other ways as Britain and other Western countries seek to make offers more appealing than those offered by Beijing and Moscow, which often link the economic assistance with strict political requirements.

The foreign minister told Sky News Sophy Ridge on Sunday program that Britain would maintain a close relationship with “hugely important” Saudi Arabia, despite “very, very profound differences” on issues such as the death penalty.

Meanwhile, Cleverly is also trying to improve relations with the EU, particularly by trying to resolve a corrosive dispute over trade relations in Northern Ireland.

Cleverly’s allies hope that the dispute over the so-called Northern Ireland protocol can be negotiated as early as 2023, ahead of the 25th anniversary of the Good Friday Agreement, ending years of conflict in the region. area.

A controversial bill allowing Britain to unilaterally pass the protocol – described by EU diplomats as “a shot to the head” – is now being presented to the House of Commons after passing stages by the House of Commons. .

Downing Street denied that the bill had been “paused”, but acknowledged that it would not be debated again in the senate until after Christmas.

Negotiators in London and Brussels are hoping that a better atmosphere between the two sides in recent weeks will facilitate a deal, although significant differences remain.



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