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Category: Foreign Affairs

  • Keir Starmer – 2026 Remarks after Coalition of the Willing Meeting

    Keir Starmer – 2026 Remarks after Coalition of the Willing Meeting

    The remarks made by Keir Starmer, the Prime Minister, on 6 January 2026.

    It’s important that we are starting the year like this –  

    European and American allies, side-by-side with President Zelenskyy…  

    Standing for peace. 

    And we are closer to that goal than ever…  

    But the hardest yards are still ahead…  

    So we’re here today to keep driving that effort forward.  

    And we’ve had a very constructive meeting…  

    Which has built on the excellent progress made in negotiations over recent days and weeks.  

    The purpose of the Coalition of the Willing… 

    Is to help deliver a peace that can last –  

    And to work with the US to guarantee Ukraine’s security for the long term. 

    This work is now more advanced than ever.   

    Today’s joint declaration set that out in clear terms –  

    On top of that, and alongside President Zelenskyy and President Macron,  

    We went even further today.

    We signed a Declaration of Intent… 

    On the deployment of forces to Ukraine in the event of a peace deal. 

    This is a vital part of our iron-cast commitment to stand with Ukraine for the long term.  

    It paves the way for the legal framework… 

    Under which British, French and partner forces could operate on Ukrainian soil –  

    Securing Ukraine’s skies and seas –  

    And regenerating Ukraine’s armed forces for the future. 

    We discussed these issues in detail today. 

    And so I can say that, following a ceasefire,  

    The UK and France will establish “military hubs” across Ukraine… 

    And build protected facilities for weapons and military equipment… 

    To support Ukraine’s defensive needs. 

    And with our Coalition partners,  

    We also have agreed significant further steps.  

    First, that we will participate in US-led monitoring and verification of any ceasefire. 

    Second, we will support the long-term provision of armaments for Ukraine’s defence. 

    And third, we will work towards binding commitments… 

    To support Ukraine in the case of a future armed attack by Russia. 

    This is all about building the practical foundations on which peace would rest. 

    But we can only get to a peace deal if Putin is ready to make compromises. 

    And so, we have to be frank –  

    For all Russia’s words…  

    Putin is not showing that he is ready for peace. 

    Over the last few weeks, we have seen the opposite: 

    Further horrific strikes on Ukraine… 

    Killing and wounding civilians… 

    And cutting off power from millions of people in the dead of winter. 

    His forces hit a hospital in Kyiv just yesterday.  

    And he has tried to distract from peace efforts with unfounded claims of attacks on his residence. 

    Now this only hardens our resolve.  

    We will continue to step up our support to Ukraine’s defence in 2026… 

    To ensure it gets the equipment and backing it needs to continue the fight. 

    And we will keep up the pressure on Russia… 

    Including further measures on the oil traders and Shadow Fleet operators funding Putin’s war chest.  

    We will continue these efforts until they come to the table in good faith… 

    And until we realise the goal that we all share – of a just and lasting peace. 

    Thank you, Emmanuel.

  • Kemi Badenoch – 2026 Comments on the Chagos Islands

    Kemi Badenoch – 2026 Comments on the Chagos Islands

    The comments made by Kemi Badenoch, the Leader of the Opposition, on 5 January 2026.

    Last night the Conservatives defeated the Government four times over its Chagos surrender. Surrendering a vital military base weakens our security and costs £35bn.

    Britain must project strength. Only the Conservatives will stand up to hostile actors and for our national interest.

  • Bernard Jenkin – 2026 Comments on Venezuela

    Bernard Jenkin – 2026 Comments on Venezuela

    The comments made by Bernard Jenkin, the Conservative MP for Harwich and North Essex, in the House of Commons on 5 January 2026.

    To those who still harbour illusions about an idealised world of international rules that will be abided by all, should we not just say, “Welcome to the real world, where might often proves to be right and we have to face the circumstances that we are in”? May I therefore give my support to the Government’s ambivalence, as supported by my right hon. Friend the Leader of the Opposition, who also rightly criticised—it was all she disagreed with the Government about—the slow pace of rearmament? Will the Foreign Secretary avoid blowing up the bridges we have with the United States and use that influence? Does she not agree it really would be stupid to slag off President Trump now when we want to have influence over what he does next?

    Yvette Cooper

    Let me address some of the hon. Member’s bigger points about the international rules-based order and global power politics. He and I are old enough to have experience and reflections on the cold war, which was all about great power politics and difficulties. Alongside those big military global tensions, we had worked hard post the second world war to develop a rules-based order. This has been a part of global history for a long time: the tensions between how we maintain international law and an international rules-based order and how we engage with different competing interests, sometimes from some of the biggest countries in the world and sometimes from some of the smaller countries in the world who have particular power in particular areas.

    In terms of the UK’s approach, we continue to believe in the importance of a rules-based order and of such an international framework. We also engage with the world as it is—the world as we face it. We need to be able to do so and to be agile in responding to that.

  • Stella Creasy – 2026 Comments on Venezuela

    Stella Creasy – 2026 Comments on Venezuela

    The comments made by Stella Creasy, the Labour MP for Walthamstow, in the House of Commons on 5 January 2026.

    The truth is, the warning signs that the rules-based order is at risk have been there for some time. In evidence to Congress during the impeachment inquiry into President Trump, the former White House adviser on Russia and Europe, Fiona Hill, claimed that an informal offer was made by Russia to withdraw its support for Venezuela in exchange for America withdrawing its support for Ukraine. In the light of these events, will the Foreign Secretary confirm that that specific allegation has been raised in her conversations with our American counterparts? What response has she had?

    Yvette Cooper

    We continue to have important discussions with the US about Ukraine and support for Ukraine. Many of those discussions have been about the security guarantees that the US would provide as part of a peace agreement for Ukraine. Those security guarantees involve the US providing that support, working with other European countries. That will continue to be a central objective of our foreign policy.

  • Andy Slaughter – 2026 Comments on Venezuela

    Andy Slaughter – 2026 Comments on Venezuela

    The comments made by Andy Slaughter, the Labour MP for Hammersmith and Chiswick, in the House of Commons on 5 January 2026.

    I welcome the Foreign Secretary’s statement that she will abide by international law. I would not expect her to publish the legal advice that she has received from the Law Officers and others, but I would expect her to set out the Government’s own analysis of whether and how the acts of US forces towards Venezuela comply with the rule of law, so will she now do that?

    Yvette Cooper

    My hon. Friend will know the constraints in the ministerial code regarding discussing legal advice. As I have said, it is for the US to set out publicly its legal basis for the actions that it has taken. We have raised the issue of international law—I have directly raised it with the US Secretary of State—and set out our views and concerns and the importance of urging all partners to abide by international law.

  • Rachel Blake – 2026 Comments on Venezuela

    Rachel Blake – 2026 Comments on Venezuela

    The speech made by Rachel Blake, the Labour MP for the Cities of London and Westminster, in the House of Commons on 5 January 2026.

    I am grateful to the Foreign Secretary for her remarks. She has talked about instability in the region and the need for grassroots investment in order for there to be a peaceful transition. Will she share with us the assessment she has made about the impact of economic instability in the region and the role of businesses in the region and how that instability could feed into and damage the possibility of a peaceful transition?

    Yvette Cooper

    My hon. Friend is exactly right. The nature of the economic crisis in Venezuela over the last decade has pushed huge numbers of Venezuelans into extreme hardship. It is one of the reasons why so many Venezuelans have left the country; an estimated one in four Venezuelans have left the country over the last 10 years as a result. This should be a country with a very strong economy. It is very important to build that economy up, but crucially it has to be to the benefit of the people of Venezuela, not criminals or corrupt regimes.

  • John McDonnell – 2026 Comments on Venezuela

    John McDonnell – 2026 Comments on Venezuela

    The comments made by John McDonnell, the Labour MP for Hayes and Harlington, in the House of Commons on 5 January 2026.

    The Secretary of State has said that the role of the Government has been to uphold international law. Part of upholding international law is to call out crimes when they are witnessed. Article 2.4 of the United Nations charter is explicit about the illegality of entering into a foreign state with armed force. That is why I found it shameful, I have to say, that the Prime Minister and Ministers in the news rounds have refused to condemn this action. I think that Trump will interpret our not condemning this action as the green light to go in wherever to steal the national assets of those countries. As a result, we are all in a more dangerous place.

    Yvette Cooper

    Promoting international law in the most effective way also means promoting the rules-based order and the rules-based alliances that we have. It means being able to raise issues around international law both publicly and privately in a way that has the greatest results to defend the rules-based order. That is what we will continue to do, and that, frankly, is what is in the UK’s interest.

  • Andrew Mitchell – 2026 Comments on Venezuela

    Andrew Mitchell – 2026 Comments on Venezuela

    The comments made by Andrew Mitchell, the Conservative MP for Sutton Coldfield, in the House of Commons on 5 January 2026.

    Of course quite a lot depends on what now happens, but Mr Maduro stole the elections in Venezuela in plain sight, is a narco-terrorist and has destroyed the lives of tens of thousands of American citizens and of those more widely and made huge amounts of money out of it. Is not the world a better place with him before the courts in New York, and in this case do not the ends justify the means?

    Yvette Cooper

    Venezuela is in a stronger position without Maduro leading it, especially given the horrendous human rights abuses and the huge damage to its economy, but as the right hon. Member implied at the beginning of his question, what happens next is really important. The UK is determined to do everything we can to ensure that there is a transition to democracy and stability, because Venezuela will not have stability without a proper democratic transition.

  • Tom Tugendhat – 2026 Comments on Venezuela

    Tom Tugendhat – 2026 Comments on Venezuela

    The comments made by Tom Tugendhat, the Conservative MP for Tonbridge, in the House of Commons on 5 January 2026.

    Surely the real story coming out today and over the past few days is the revelation—one we should all have known—that this country has opted out of protecting the international rules-based system. We have not significantly invested in defence, and even the commitment the Foreign Secretary speaks of does not keep pace with defence inflation. As the Prime Minister revealed on Sunday, he has not even spoken to the American President. Does this not reveal the simple truth that the Americans did this without us because they do not give a damn what this House thinks?

    Yvette Cooper

    I guess I would just have to ask who it was who did not significantly invest in defence over the past 14 years. This Government are substantially increasing investment in defence, chairing the coalition of the willing, and showing leadership on the international stage. What has struck me since becoming Foreign Secretary, and having had discussions with Governments from across the world over the past few months, is how often those Governments say how welcome it is that Britain is back.

  • John Whittingdale – 2026 Comments on Venezuela

    John Whittingdale – 2026 Comments on Venezuela

    The comments made by John Whittingdale, the Conservative MP for Maldon, in the House of Commons on 5 January 2026.

    The Maduro and Chávez regime was characterised by widespread human rights abuse, criminality and economic destitution, and many Venezuelans are rightly and understandably celebrating its end. However, I have to say to the Foreign Secretary that after more than half an hour, it is still not clear whether the UK Government actually agree with what has been done. She referred to the discussion taking place at the UN Security Council at the moment—can she say what the UK’s position will be at that meeting?

    Yvette Cooper

    I set out our position at the beginning of the statement: we have long supported a peaceful transition from an authoritarian regime to a democracy. We shed no tears for the removal of Maduro, but we want a peaceful transition to the establishment of a democracy, which we do not yet have in Venezuela. That is what we will work towards. We will always argue for the upholding of international law.