• What is the FCO?
• Who we are
• What we do
• Our priorities
• Our purpose
• Security
• Prosperity
• Consular
• Services we deliver
• How we spend our budget
• Working in partnership
• Working with the Overseas Territories
• Public diplomacy
• Protocol
• Scholarships
• Our Ministers
• Our history
• Working for us

Our purpose

We will use our global diplomatic network to protect and promote UK interests worldwide. Retain and build up Britain’s international influence in specific areas in order to shape a distinctive British foreign policy geared to the national interest.

In depth

• Continue a strong, close and frank relationship with the United States that delivers concrete benefits for both sides;
  
  
• Advance the British national interest through an effective EU policy in priority areas, engaging constructively while protecting our national sovereignty;
  
  
• Deliver more effective and modernised international institutions, particularly the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation, the European Union, the United Nations, the
  Organisation for Security and Co-operation in Europe and the Council of Europe;
  
  
• Strengthen the Commonwealth as a focus for promoting democratic values, human rights, climate resilient development, conflict prevention and trade;
  
  
• Use soft power as a tool of UK foreign policy; promote British values, including human rights; and contribute to the welfare of developing countries and their citizens;

The Foreign Secretary has outlined the importance of British values and human rights in the following video:

Video: British values and human rights

• Reform the UK machinery of government in foreign policy: establish a National Security Council as the centre of decision-making on international and national security issues and help implement the foreign policy elements of the National Security Strategy and the Strategic Defence and Security Review.

   

See also

Prosperity

Consular

Security

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