Tag: Foreign Office

The press release issued by the Foreign Office on 7 August 2025.

Lebanon’s inclusion in the ‘Dragon Group’ meetings underscores its strategic importance & longstanding partnership with the UK in promoting regional stability.

The Commander of the Lebanese Armed Forces (LAF), General Rodolph Haykal attended the UK-hosted “Dragon Group” between 4-5 August, accompanied by UK Defence Attaché to Lebanon Lt Col Charlie Smith, reinforcing the strong military partnership between Lebanon and the UK.

The Dragon Group is a UK-led initiative launched in 2018 aboard HMS Dragon to bring together Chiefs of Defence from across the Middle Eastern region. Initially comprising nine nations, the group has evolved to reflect the region’s broader security landscape. Lebanon’s inclusion this year underscores its strategic importance and longstanding partnership with the UK in promoting regional stability.

The ninth meeting took place in Edinburgh, Scotland, to coincide with the world-famous Military Tattoo.

During his visit, General Haykal met with the UK Chief of Defence Staff Admiral Sir Tony Radakin and Chiefs of Defence from across the Middle East. Discussions focused on enhancing bilateral cooperation, regional security, and continued UK support for the LAF as the sole legitimate defender of Lebanon.

This visit underscores the UK’s commitment to Lebanon’s stability and sovereignty. Since 2009, the UK has provided over £161 million in support to Lebanon’s security institutions, including £106 million in direct assistance to the LAF through training, equipment, and infrastructure.

Charge D’Affaires Victoria Dunne said:

The visit of the Lebanese Army Commander General Haykal to the UK reflects the strength of our defence partnership and the UK’s ongoing support for the Lebanese Armed Forces. We stand with Lebanon in its efforts to maintain peace, security, and sovereignty.

UK Defence Attaché Lt. Col. Charlie Smith said:

The Lebanese Armed Forces plays a vital role in Lebanon’s and the region’s stability. I am grateful for General Haykal’s valuable contribution to this meeting of the Dragon Group. We are proud to work alongside the LAF supporting with training, kit and equipment. Our bilateral military cooperation remains strong and we reaffirm our commitment to their mission and capabilities.

The press release issued by the Foreign Office on 7 August 2025.

Andrew Wood has been appointed UK Permanent Representative to the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) in Paris.

Mr Andrew Wood has been appointed UK Permanent Representative to the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) in Paris, in succession to Ms Natacha Alexander.  Mr Wood will take up his appointment during September 2025.

Curriculum vitae

Full name: Andrew David Wood

Year	Role
2024 to 2025	Head of the Office for Value for Money
2019 to 2024	Brussels, Economic Counsellor at UK Mission to EU
2017 to 2019	HM Treasury, Deputy Director, Strategy and Planning
2016 to 2017	UK Financial Investments, Chief of Staff
2014 to 2016	HM Treasury, Senior Policy Advisor, Financial Stability
2012 to 2014	Barclays Bank, Regulatory Manager
2009 to 2012	HM Treasury, Senior Policy Advisor, Financial Stability
2008 to 2009	Department of Energy and Climate Change, Senior Policy Advisor, Climate Change Technologies
2006 to 2008	HM Treasury, Policy Analyst, Energy and Climate Change
2005 to 2006	HM Treasury, Assistant Economist, Alcohol and Tobacco Tax
2005	Joined HM Treasury

The press release issued by the Foreign Office on 6 August 2025.

Statement by Caroline Quinn, UK Deputy Political Coordinator, at the UN Security Council meeting on the non-proliferation of weapons of mass destruction.

President, allow me to make three brief points.

Firstly, resolution 1540 (2004) is a cornerstone of the international non-proliferation architecture.

Since its adoption, however, the threat posed by weapons of mass destruction has not diminished. Instead, new challenges have emerged.

Against this backdrop, the United Kingdom reiterates its call for all States to implement their obligations under this resolution in full.

Secondly, the United Kingdom remains committed to assisting States in improving their national implementation, including through offering legal and regulatory expertise to help strengthen controls over chemical, biological, radiological and nuclear materials.

In parallel, however, and underpinning the full implementation of resolution 1540, is the need for the 1540 Committee and Group of Experts to be able to function properly.

Therefore, we call on all members to engage constructively to agree a robust and forward-looking Programme of Work.

This will help enable the committee to take forward resolution 1540’s ambitions, in a full and in timely manner.

Thirdly and finally, President, we also note with concern that unwarranted objections from some committee members have prevented the Group of Experts from attending outreach events to focus on specific thematic and regional issues related to implementation.

Such activity is critical for the Group of Experts to execute its functions, including to provide insight and technical support to Member States in their implementation of 1540.

The UK, therefore, calls for the immediate reversal of any such action which might hinder this committee’s vital work.

The press release issued by the Foreign Office on 6 August 2025.

HMS Prince of Wales, flagship of the UK Carrier Strike Group (CSG), will make a port call to Tokyo from late August to early September as part of Operation HIGHMAST, the Royal Navy’s eight-month deployment to the Indo-Pacific region, including Japan.

The deployment reinforces the UK’s commitment to the Indo-Pacific as outlined in the government’s Plan for Change, supporting the mission to keep Britain secure at home and strong abroad while fostering the international partnerships essential for economic growth and national security.

The visit of CSG to Japan , symbolises the close alignment of strategic interests and values shared between the UK and Japan, and  representing an opportunity to deepen UK-Japan defence cooperation, enhance interoperability through joint activities, and engage in dialogue on regional challenges.

The deployment also embodies the deepening partnership between the UK and Japan, demonstrating the unprecedented cooperation established through our enhanced global strategic partnership, including the Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA), Reciprocal Access Agreement (RAA), and the Global Combat Air Programme (GCAP).

Strategic partnership in action

As each other’s closest security partners in Europe and Asia respectively, the UK and Japan share fundamental values and face common challenges. The CSG visit to Japan, and in particular the port visit to Tokyo by HMS Prince of Wales, marks a significant milestone in the multi-layered cooperation spanning politics, defence, economy, and culture that defines the modern UK-Japan relationship.

British Ambassador to Japan Julia Longbottom said:

The visit of HMS Prince of Wales to Tokyo underlines the UK’s strong commitment to a secure and prosperous Indo-Pacific, while showcasing the remarkable depth of our partnership with Japan. Together, as trusted allies, we are strengthening cooperation across defence, economy, and culture. This visit demonstrates our joint determination to safeguard regional stability, and our shared ambition to deliver innovation, prosperity, and a sustainable future for the next generation.

Multi-day programme of engagement

The Tokyo port visit will feature a programme of events taking place over multiple days, designed to strengthen bilateral cooperation and regional partnerships. Key events will include the prestigious Pacific Future Forum, bringing together defence, security and industry leaders from across the region to discuss shared security challenges, from future technology to economic security.

A Defence & Security Industry Day will showcase British defence capabilities and innovation, providing opportunities for UK companies to demonstrate world-leading technologies and explore new partnerships with Japanese counterparts across advanced sectors including space, cyber and emerging technologies.

Global deployment of unprecedented scale

Operation HIGHMAST represents the most ambitious UK naval deployment in a generation, involving nearly 4,000 British personnel across the Royal Navy (2,500), Royal Air Force (592), and British Army (900). The eight-month deployment will cover over 26,000 nautical miles, visiting more than 40 countries and undertaking over 70 engagements, exercises and operations.

The deployment showcases true international partnership, with 12 nations supporting the CSG with ships or personnel. Norway is providing a warship for the entire duration of the deployment, whilst Canada, Spain, and New Zealand have also contributed vessels, demonstrating that the security of the Euro-Atlantic and Indo-Pacific regions is fundamentally indivisible.

Showcasing British innovation and creativity

HMS Prince of Wales exemplifies the UK’s world-leading naval engineering and integrated operational capabilities, demonstrating advanced military readiness and technological superiority. The carrier uniquely combines cutting-edge technology with traditional British maritime expertise, representing the very best of UK innovation.

With up to 24 F-35B Lightning II fighter jets embarked, in squadrons from both the Royal Navy and the Royal Air Force, HMS Prince of Wales showcases the largest concentration of fifth-generation aircraft ever deployed by the Royal Navy. These advanced systems demonstrate UK defence innovation whilst laying the groundwork for future UK-Japan joint development projects, including the groundbreaking GCAP programme – a joint initiative between the UK, Japan and Italy to develop a next generation fighter jet.

The UK’s industrial strategy drives not just security but high-value job creation, innovation, and economic growth across both nations. UK-Japan defence industry cooperation continues to strengthen both countries’ competitiveness in aerospace, cyber, and technology, with applications for solving global challenges that matter to people in both countries.

Creative cooperation between our nations delivers mutual benefits, with the CSG visit expanding industrial and technological partnerships that will drive innovation for decades to come.

Guardians of maritime security and global challenges

The UK’s CSG deployment to Japan demonstrates concrete action toward realising a free and open Indo-Pacific and our unwavering commitment to regional stability. As maritime nations, the UK and Japan will continue to fulfil their vital responsibility as guardians of the maritime rules-based order, ensuring the freedom and safety of the seas for all nations.

The CSG’s presence reinforces both countries’ shared approaches to complex security challenges, including maritime security, cyber threats, and the safe development of emerging technologies. This collaborative approach addresses the security concerns that affect our people’s prosperity and future.

The UK Foreign and Defence Secretaries recently visited Australia to observe Exercise Talisman Sabre, the largest-ever military exercise Australia has hosted, involving the CSG and 3,000 UK personnel. As part of the exercise, the AUKUS nations successfully worked alongside Japan to strengthen collaboration on the defence use of robotics and autonomous technologies.

Boosting UK trade and economic growth

The deployment directly supports the government’s Plan for Change through economic growth opportunities. Port visits in Singapore, Indonesia, Japan, and the Republic of Korea will showcase British defence capabilities through trade demonstrations and fairs, supporting UK exports and international trade.

The Indo-Pacific is a critical region for UK trade, with the region accounting for 17% of total UK trade – worth £286 billion in goods and services in the 12 months to September 2024. The deployment provides opportunities for UK companies to participate in trade events during port visits, delivering British jobs and growth whilst building on the strong foundation established through the bilateral UK-Japan Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA), and the multilateral Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP).

Building a sustainable connection for the future

Alongside partnership between our governments and militaries, UK engagement with Japan spans civil society, business, culture, academia, and people-to-people links.. This comprehensive connection between our countries means that together, we can tackle the global challenges that both Japanese and British people care about, from environmental sustainability to technological security. The UK is committed to investing in this connection, and the many links between our countries that bring it to life, now and for future generations. The visit of CSG to Japan, and HMS Prince of Wales to Tokyo, will be an unforgettable moment in our partnership.

Further details of specific programmes and venues will be announced in due course.

Notes to editors:

• Operation HIGHMAST involves nearly 4,000 British personnel across the Royal Navy (2,500), Royal Air Force (592), and British Army (900)
• Exercise Talisman Sabre involved 3,000 UK personnel
• The deployment includes 12 international partners contributing ships or personnel, including Norway, Canada, Spain, and New Zealand
• The CSG will cover over 26,000 nautical miles and visit more than 40 countries over eight months
• This follows the successful 2021 deployment of HMS Queen Elizabeth, which travelled 26,000 nautical miles and engaged with 40 nations
• The deployment supports the government’s commitment to increase defence spending to 2.6% of GDP
• This follows the establishment of GCAP headquarters in Reading and continued progress on the trilateral fighter programme between the UK, Japan, and Italy
• Trade between the UK and Indo-Pacific region accounts for 17% of total UK trade, worth £286 billion annually
• Japan is the UK’s 15th largest trading partner. Total UK exports to Japan amounted to £14.7 billion in the four quarters to the end of Q3 2024, whilst UK imports from Japan totalled £12.4 billion over the same period.
• The strong economic partnership is further evidenced by Japan’s record £17.7 billion investment commitment into the UK during the Japan G7, spanning sectors including green energy, offshore wind, real estate and quantum technology. The UK was the number two destination for Japanese investment in 2023, highlighting the mutual confidence in our economic relationship.
• Access restrictions will be implemented at the port terminal during the port visit.

The press release issued by the Foreign Office on 5 August 2025.

Statement by Ambassador Barbara Woodward, UK Permanent Representative to the UN, at the UN Security Council meeting on the Middle East.

I’d like to start by thanking ASG Jenča for your briefing. I also want to express my gratitude to Ilay David for his powerful advocacy in support of his brother and for the hostages in Gaza.

I want to reassure Mr David through the Israeli delegation that the UK stands with your family, and the families of all those who have suffered due to Hamas’ inhuman and cruel actions, including British citizen Ditza Or, whose son Avinatan remains in captivity.

This Council has called for the immediate and unconditional release of all hostages in all four of its resolutions since October 7th, and I repeat that call today.

As my Foreign Secretary has said, the images of Evyatar and other emaciated hostages paraded in front of cameras for propaganda are depraved.

Hamas and its terrorist ideology can have no place in the future governance of Gaza and should never again threaten Israel’s security.

President, the ceasefire at the beginning of this year was a rare moment of hope, which allowed hostages to be released, and the UN to surge aid into Gaza.

Since the ceasefire ended, the suffering of the hostages and Palestinian civilians has plumbed new and shocking depths.

Israel’s aid restrictions have led to famine now unfolding in Gaza, as reported by the IPC.

Last week, I spoke with doctors who had served in Gaza.  They had seen children so malnourished that their wounds festered for months without healing.

They had seen baby formula confiscated by the IDF at the border, depriving newborns of the basic essentials for life.

I call on Israel now to act to alleviate this horrendous suffering.

We need to see restrictions on aid delivery lifted in line with the principles of humanity, impartiality, neutrality and independence. And the UN must be able to operate safely and at scale.

We also call for all land routes to be opened for essential supplies, including food, baby formula, medicine, fuel and clean water.

We call for Israel to ensure the protection of civilians, medics and aid workers.  And we are appalled that another Palestinian Red Crescent worker was killed this week by an Israeli strike on its headquarters. Israel must investigate this and other similar incidents.

President, as I said, the ceasefire earlier this year showed what can be achieved when there is political will.

And last week’s Two State Solution Conference showed what can be achieved when the international community comes together.

We urge the parties to reinvigorate their efforts to secure a ceasefire deal and an end to the conflict.

As my Prime Minister set out last week, the UK is ready to play its full and historic part in achieving a plan which ends the bloodshed, brings the hostages home and lays the foundations for a Palestinian state.

Statehood is the inalienable right of the Palestinian people and is essential to the long-term security of Israel.

The press release issued by the Foreign Office on 5 August 2025.

• UK to provide vital humanitarian assistance for more than 85,000 Syrians affected by recent violence
• package of medical and other humanitarian support to be sent to help those displaced from their homes in Suwayda, Dara’a and rural Damascus
• UK government is committed to ensuring regional and global security, underpinned by the Plan for Change

A support package provided by the UK government is delivering much-needed humanitarian assistance to Syrian people affected by the recent violence in the south of the country.

The package will see the deployment of mobile medical teams to deliver urgent healthcare to those in need, including those displaced from their homes, as well as the delivery of medicine and trauma care equipment to health facilities, and essential support for pregnant women and new mothers. It will also provide food, clean water, hygiene and sanitation support.

This £1.7 million of assistance will be delivered through UK partnerships with the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA), International Medical Corps (IMC), and local Syrian organisations working with the Aid Fund for Syria (AFS). As with all our work, we have robust processes in place to ensure our aid reaches those who need it.

Today’s announcement follows a recent escalation in violence in southern Syria, which has resulted in the deaths of hundreds of Syrians and left thousands injured.

Minister for the Middle East Hamish Falconer said:

The appalling violence in Suwayda has left people without food, water, fuel and medical care. Many have been displaced from their homes. The humanitarian situation is awful, and continued humanitarian access is vital to ensure aid gets to those who desperately need it.

This UK package of support will provide urgently needed healthcare, medicines, food, and clean water to those displaced by the recent violence.

The UK continues to call for a sustainable ceasefire in southern Syria, and for those responsible for recent violence to be held to account. The Minister for the Middle East addressed this in his intervention on Syria at the UN last week.

The UK remains committed to supporting an inclusive and representative political transition, which protects the rights of all Syrians.

The Foreign Secretary also visited Syria last month, during which time he announced new funding to assist with the removal of Assad-era chemical weapons, and reiterated the UK’s commitment to ensuring a more secure and prosperous future for all Syrians – vital for regional and global security, as part of the government’s Plan for Change.

The visit to Damascus also marked the UK officially re-establishing diplomatic relations with the Syrian Government, following the fall of the Assad regime last year.

Background

• the UK has provided £4.5 billion of assistance to Syria and countries in the region since 2011
• during his visit to Damascus on 5 July, the Foreign Secretary announced £94.5 million to provide urgent humanitarian aid to Syrians, support Syria’s longer-term recovery through education and livelihoods, and support countries hosting Syrian refugees in the region
• the £1.7 million announced today is drawn from part of our existing budget to support humanitarian needs across Syria. It will:
  • deploy 12 mobile medical teams to deliver urgent healthcare services, providing emergency health support to displaced people and include specific support for new mothers, pregnant women, and girls temporarily living in shelters. This includes ante and post-natal care, sanitary supplies, safe deliveries, and support to prevent violence against vulnerable women and girls
  • provide urgent medical supplies, support to blood bank services, and equipment to support trauma and emergency assessments

The press release issued by the Foreign Office on 1 August 2025.

Statement by Ambassador Barbara Woodward, UK Permanent Representative to the UN, at the UN Security Council meeting on Ukraine.

As we meet here, only a day after our last discussion on Russia’s continued aggression in Ukraine, I do so acutely aware that this is a day of mourning in Kyiv. And I extend my sympathy and condolences to all who mourn in Ukraine today.

Russia continues to inflict devastation across Ukraine.

The Russian strikes we witness demonstrate the stark reality. While Ukraine continues to set out its willingness to move towards peace, Putin’s response is to kill more innocent civilians.

Over the last four nights, Russia has fired 487 drones and 10 missiles at Ukrainian cities, killing 64 civilians and injuring over 279 more.

On Wednesday night alone, 31 people were killed in Kyiv, the deadliest attack on the city this year.

Local authorities have reported that 12 children were among the injured, making it the highest number of children injured on an attack in the capital since the start of Russia’s full-scale invasion.

Every meeting we have on Ukraine, we hear more heartbreaking stories about civilian deaths, including the tragic killing of a six-year-old boy on Wednesday night and the hospitalisation of at least nine other children.

Russia is unmoved by this. We are not.

These are not just numbers. Each represents an individual life lost, a future snuffed out, and for the wounded, a future irrevocably blighted by Russia, as I saw for myself when I visited rehabilitation centres in Kyiv.

The human toll of President Putin’s continued illegal, unjustifiable war against Ukraine is immense.

Russia’s attacks on civilians, on children, and on civilian infrastructure tells us everything we need to know about President Putin’s intentions. Every Russian strike is a commitment not to peace, but an attempt to destroy life and liberty in Ukraine.

And this is despite Russia’s obligations in international law, in the UN Charter and Russia’s status as a permanent member of this Council.

Their strikes, however, continue to escalate.

So we echo President Trump’s calls for President Putin to engage meaningfully at the negotiating table.

This Council was all but unanimous yesterday in calling for an immediate, full and unconditional ceasefire. That remains our call today.

The press release issued by the Foreign Office on 1 August 2025.

Ambassador Holland thanks Finland for hosting the Helsinki +50 Conference, reiterates the UK’s support for Ukraine, and welcomes Conference discussions on OSCE reform and addressing future challenges

Let me begin by thanking Finland for hosting this historically significant event, and for your principled and committed Chairpersonship of the OSCE during a challenging time for European security.

We meet in an era of radical uncertainty – as recognised in the UK’s national security strategy – marked by intensifying great power competition, resurgent authoritarianism, and the spread of extremist ideologies.

In this context, the OSCE does invaluable work. Its expert autonomous institutions play a vital role in holding participating States to account for upholding the commitments of the Helsinki Final Act. Its comprehensive conflict toolkit – from early warning to dialogue facilitation – remains unmatched. Its election observation missions and field operations continue to deliver real impact on the ground, supporting stability and resilience across our shared region.

But as we face new threats, we must reaffirm our core principles. As our Minister for Europe, North America and Overseas Territories said yesterday, abandoning those principles invites instability.

The Helsinki Final Act remains a landmark. It sets out the basic rules that should govern international relations – principles both sides of the Cold War divide agreed upon. It is a foundation for collective security. And it is clear: no country can achieve lasting security by violating the sovereignty of others or undermining the rules-based order.

Our support for Ukraine is a test of our determination to defend those principles. Since the full-scale invasion, the UK has worked through the OSCE to expose Russia’s violations of the Helsinki principles. We did so again last week, invoking the Moscow Mechanism on Russia’s treatment of Prisoners of War alongside 40 other countries and we do so again today. Russia must demonstrate it is serious about peace: by accepting the Ukrainian-US ceasefire proposal and returning to its Helsinki commitments.

But upholding these principles also requires us to look forward. If the Helsinki legacy is to endure, the OSCE must adapt to meet the demands of the future. As custodian of these principles, it must be able to act, speak and respond with credibility and agility. This should include a meaningful role for civil society in recognition that lasting security comes from cooperation, not just between states, but within societies.

Today’s discussions have helped identify practical ways to restore the organisation’s effectiveness. We must continue this discussion. The UK looks forward to working with Finland and all participating States to carry this momentum through to the Ministerial Council and beyond so the OSCE can fulfil its core mission: serving as a forum for stability, dialogue and cooperation.

Thank you.

The press release issued by the Foreign Office on 1 August 2025.

The building, funded by the UK Ministry of Defence will support UK personnel to deliver a variety of training and support to Lebanese Armed Forces (LAF) units.

Ahead of Lebanese Army Day on 1 August the UK Chargé D’Affaires Victoria Dunne, accompanied by Defence Attaché Lt Col Charles Smith, inaugurated a new military accommodation facility in Hamat on Thursday 31 July.

The building, funded by the UK Ministry of Defence will support UK personnel to deliver a variety of training and support to various Lebanese Armed Forces (LAF) units. This includes leadership development for junior officers and infantry skills courses, including for female LAF personnel.

The UK continues to be a steadfast supporter of the LAF, the sole legitimate defender of Lebanon, supporting with training, kit and equipment.

Chargé D’Affaires Victoria Dunne said:

A huge congratulations to the LAF on their 80th anniversary whose bravery defending Lebanon internally and on the borders is admirable.

I am thrilled to be in Hamat today to inaugurate this new accommodation facility.

We are proud of our partnership with the LAF and ongoing support for the development of its capabilities, including through training.

Defence Attaché Charles Smith said:

Today is another milestone for UK-Lebanese defence cooperation.

The provision of accommodation and facilities will assist UK personnel in delivering high-impact training to various LAF brigades and units, including to female officers and soldiers.

It also demonstrates that the UK remains a proud and enduring partner to the LAF.

The press release issued by the Foreign Office on 25 July 2025.

Minister for Development, Baroness Chapman, gave a speech on the UK’s new approach to development at the G20 Development Ministerial Meeting in South Africa.

Congratulations to the Presidency on hosting the first G20 in Africa.

It has taken 20 years to meet in Africa. There is no world in which this should have taken so long. From the UK’s perspective, we should not wait another 20 years to do this again.

This is at the core of what I want to use my intervention to say. That we in the UK believe we have to do development differently now.

We cannot start from the idea that ‘we know best’. We must not just pay lip service to what our partners tell us. When we say partnership and not paternalism – we have to mean it.

The solutions of 2005 are not the solutions of 2025. And with environmental shocks, health crises, and more conflicts than at any time since the middle of the last century, all hitting the poorest hardest, we have to face up to reality.

This is the only way to rise to the global challenge that Mandela gave us – to Make Poverty History.

There are three specific ways in which we are transforming the UK’s approach.

One – we are listening. Our new approach is already informing our new strategy. But there is a long way to go.

New leadership from across the globe is changing what is possible, again. Powerful voices like President of the African Development Bank, Akinwumi Adesina. The new Commonwealth Secretary General, Shirley Botchwey. Nigerian Health Minister, Muhammad Ali Pate.

These are just a few of the 47 African governments and multilateral bodies, and over 200 businesses and communities that the UK has consulted – following our Foreign Secretary’s visit to Cape Town last year.

Two – we are thinking like investors, not donors, and bringing all the UK’s strengths to the table.

In partnership, we can share everything from world-class health and tech know-how, to new ways of getting finance flowing into emerging and developing markets – from the world’s green finance hub in London.

I saw some of this yesterday at an agri-business in this region, with British International Investment helping to create 400 local jobs. Critical for the economy and for supporting South Africa’s Just Energy Transition Partnership.

We’re making headway on getting money in place before disasters hit, and unlocking private capital – as we discussed together in Seville, at FFD4 two weeks ago.

The private sector is vital – which is why we matched private funding for Gavi, so we can get new ideas and fresh thinking into how we keep our populations healthy.

And third – this is all part of our shared mission for economic growth and opportunity. That is how we get countries on a journey out of development and aid – and help millions more people out of poverty.

So, I want to thank the Presidency for choosing themes that go to the heart of how we can work together.

On illicit finance – my friend the Foreign Secretary is leading the UK’s efforts to tackle this shared challenge, and he will host a global conference.

There is more though for us all to do – to give people confidence that they can trust governments to use their money well, and combat criminals laundering money through the world’s financial centres.

And on social protection – together, we are developing systems every government needs, to reach the most vulnerable people facing hunger and poverty.

That includes the work my colleague Lord Collins is co-leading, alongside Somalia’s Deputy Prime Minister – to make sure this can be felt in the most fragile places on earth.

Finally, these auspicious occasions, as I am sure you all know, can happen with such frequency that we show up and we repeat positions we have been stuck on for years. But instead, I want to use every occasion we come together as an opportunity to leave ‘business as usual’ behind – and push for the change we all know is needed.

So we are going to work together, harder – to secure reform at the United Nations, the International Monetary Fund, and the World Bank.

To improve and expand the G20’s approach to debt, ahead of the leaders summit.

To back Brazil’s work to make the next climate summit count.

And to champion ambition and innovation at the African Development Bank – as well as the replenishment of the Global Fund, that we are proud to co-host alongside South Africa.

This is how we remake development for the next 20 years. Making sure we don’t wait decades to meet in Africa again.

Starting with the idea that we need to learn from one another – and drop the old idea that ‘we know best’.

And facing up to reality. So we listen to our partners. Think like investors. And bringing all our strengths to bear, in pursuit of the economic growth and opportunity that we need – to help millions more people put poverty behind them.

Thank you.