On the December 12th 2022, British Foreign Minister James Cleverly at the foreign office of Britain welcomed India, Germany, Japan and Brazil as permanent members of the United Nations Security Council (UNSC). The minister in his speech highlighted the need for Britain to forge “strong relations” with future powers in Asia, Latin America, and Africa. Countries in these continents are referred to as Global South. He stated that the main focus of these countries is on securing their economic development and resilience against threats from climate change, terrorism and diseases.
Additionally, the secondary objective of his address was also to explain UK’s growing focus on the Indo-Pacific Region. In his context, Britain was very eager to sign the Trans-Pacific Trade Agreement. All these aims can be achieved through deeper cooperation with India and the finalization of the signing of a free trade agreement between the two nations.
According to Cleverly, many of these nations (Brazil, India and Indonesia) have enjoyed rapid success. Their populations are typically younger than that of Britain. For example- the median age in Britain is over 40, in Brazil, it is 33, in Indonesia, it is 30 and in India is 28.
He further added that if the United Kingdom is not friends with these countries, then “you can bet that others will try to fill that void and seize any opportunity that we might be mistaken enough to give them.”
He recalled how the UK joined hands with USSR, USA and France to form the United Nations. He said that British Foreign Policy strives to renew its foundations and principles because the rules-based global order created at that time allowed more people to live in peace and prosperity than ever before.
He recalled PM Modi’s remark that today’s era is not an era of war. He congratulated PM Modi for saying this comment right in front of warmonger Putin.
He criticized and condemned Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. He stated that what chills his blood is that Putin is ready to destroy laws that protect every nation and his goal is to turn “back the clock to the era when might was right and big countries could treat their neighbors as prey.”
Ukraine is a nation which is one of the largest and biggest producers of food and fertilizers. By attacking it Russia has created inflation in the world regarding food prices which are affecting the poorest and downtrodden people of the world.
Cleverly said the only route to peace in Europe is for Putin to end his war and withdraw his troops from Ukraine as soon as possible.
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