Tag: Foreign Office

The press release issued by the Foreign Office on 17 June 2026.

Speaking at the Annual Security Review Conference (ASRC), Director of Defence and International Security, Ben Fender, reconfirms support for Ukraine, condemnation for Russia’s war and looks ahead to the UK simultaneously chairing two key OSCE security forums later this year.

Thank you, Chair and Secretary-General, for your leadership in difficult times.

This meeting is our annual moment to take stock of security in the Euro-Atlantic area.

There have been moments of light.  The year has seen voters in Armenia, Hungary and Moldova defeat interference in their democracy.  Real steps towards peace between Armenia and Azerbaijan.  Ukraine and Moldova open a new chapter in their relations with the EU.

But Russia’s unprovoked, illegal war against Ukraine is now in its fifth year.  A war that has now gone on longer than the First World War, longer than the Soviet role in the Second World War.  About which our Russian colleague knows so many facts.  And of course we should not count the days of Russia’s aggression from 2022 but 2014, or earlier.

We stand, as always, in solidarity with Ukraine and its people, who have suffered so much.

The Kremlin gains nothing by continuing.  Every month that passes leaves 35,000 Russian soldiers dead or injured.  Russia’s economy in worse decline, its young people denied opportunity.   Its army ever more reliant on North Korea, Iran and China.

On Sunday, Russia’s target was the monastery of the Dormition, dating back to the 11th Century.  The same night two state cinema organisations.  And a well-known art institution, the Mistetski Arsenalna.  Three years ago, I saw for myself the Transfiguration Cathedral in Odesa, another World Heritage Site, with a hole in the ceiling where a missile had hit.  Icons in tatters.  Prayer stalls under the rubble.

Putin’s war is not just against Ukraine but its culture. And against the civilisation of all of us.  But it is also a war that is making Ukraine’s identify, its resolve, stronger than ever.  And our resolve too. What history should have taught our Russia colleague is that the will of peoples to defend their freedom and security will always be stronger than the will of those who want to take it away.

The threats posed by the war are not limited to Ukraine.  Russia is eroding norms we all benefit from by its routine use of intermediate-range ballistic missiles and its strikes against civilian populations.  Last week, a drone hit the Chornobyl fuel store – a nuclear site, in the exclusion zone, far from any military activity, on the border of Belarus.  Days before, a Russian drone hit a tower block in a city in Romania.  Many of our countries have been the victim of acts of Russian sabotage.  Poland, of a cyber attack on its energy infrastructure.  Barely a week goes by without reckless behaviour by Russian jets.

Helsinki principles remain, as they have for half a century, a beacon of hope and stability.  They need upholding, not changing.  The OSCE remains a vital place where we can tell truths and hold each other to account.

We are confident that the arc of history will bend toward justice.  Ukraine has stopped Russia’s advances.  Allies have never been more generous with their support.

As the current Chair of the Security Committee, the UK has sought to uphold OSCE principles and support Ukraine, and other victims, of Putin’s war.  Exposed the growing hybrid threats – on which the OSCE should do more.  As it should help states to tackle illegal migration.

In September, we look forward to taking on the Chair of the Forum for Security Co-operation.  Our priorities will be to support these OSCE principles and support Ukraine, hold Russia to account, and promote responsible security management.

Chair, it will be an honour for us to chair both formal committees of the OSCE’s Pol-Mil Dimension and we look forward to working with you all. Thank you.

The press release issued by the Foreign Office on 16 June 2026.

Statement by Jennifer MacNaughtan, UK Minister Counsellor, at the Security Council meeting on Yemen.

Thank you, Under-Secretary General Fletcher and Special Envoy Grundberg for your briefings. 

Firstly, I would like to welcome the Special Envoy’s announcement of agreement to release detainees related to the conflict. We commend the efforts of the UN, the ICRC and Saudi Arabia to secure this, and express our thanks to Jordan and Oman for their support.

The UK urges all parties to ensure the full and timely implementation of the agreement and to build further on this positive momentum.  

However, even as we welcome this positive and tangible step, we reiterate our condemnation of Houthi detentions of staff from the UN, NGOs, civil society and diplomatic missions. We remain deeply concerned for the welfare of those held some of whom have now been separated from their families for over 2 years.

 Earlier this month, Security Council members reaffirmed our demand for the unconditional, safe and immediate release of those detainees, including 73 United Nations personnel. Council members also reiterated that humanitarian personnel must be able to operate safely in line with international humanitarian law.

Threats to those delivering humanitarian assistance are unacceptable and have resulted in the pause of lifesaving programmes, worsening the dire situation for millions of Yemenis in need.  

The UK welcomes continued efforts across the United Nations and through all possible channels to secure their immediate and unconditional release.   

Second, we remain deeply concerned by food insecurity situation in Yemen and have heard powerful further information on this today from USG Fletcher. 

Over 18 million Yemenis – nearly half the population – are already food insecure, with many forced to resort to extreme coping strategies such as selling their house or land to meet basic food needs. Integrated Food Security Phase Classification analysis projects a further decline over the coming months. 

Last year, the UK provided over $190m towards the humanitarian response in Yemen, and we remain committed to supporting these efforts and working collectively with partners to reach those most in need. 

Third, despite the challenging regional context, we must keep international attention on the pursuit of stability and security for Yemen. 

The Government of Yemen have made significant progress since February, including with the support of the Saudi Arabia, whose provision of fuel derivatives came at a critical moment. 

The UK will continue our strong support for President Al-Alimi and Prime Minister Zindani as the Government pursues important reforms and works towards a new National Development Plan for Yemen.

The press release issued by 10 Downing Street on 16 June 2026.

The Prime Minister met the President of the European Council António Costa at the G7 Summit in Evian today.

The leaders underlined the importance of close cooperation between the UK and Europe, to benefit both sides.

A closer relationship was vital for European security, resilience and prosperity, they reiterated.

Both leaders agreed to work closely ahead of the UK-EU summit, which they agreed would be held on July 22.

The press release issued by the Foreign Office on 16 June 2026.

Industry engagement is speeding up support to the Middle East, enabling faster decisions, improved capability access and stronger defence supplier collaboration

Key points

• The Defence Industrial Joint Council (DIJC) is a key forum for strategic engagement, enabling earlier collaboration and fast responses to urgent operational needs
• Early market engagement is providing clearer and insight into available capability, supporting quicker, better informed procurement decisions
• MOD Category Strategies are strengthening  access to critical materials, reducing supply chain delays, and aligning activity with industry through the DIJC Working Group.

Increasing the speed of support through early industry engagement

Meeting urgent operational demands in the Middle East relies on earlier, stronger engagement with industry. The Defence Industrial Joint Council (DIJC), alongside the National Armaments Director (NAD) Group’s newly formed Early Market Engagement team, is central to increasing the speed of support. This work supports the Defence Industrial Strategy commitment to provide clearer, earlier demand signals, ensuring suppliers are better positioned to respond to rapidly evolving requirements.

Through structured engagement, including Strategic Industry Roundtables, MOD has moved beyond traditional procurement approaches to earlier, more open conversations with suppliers. The approach engages industry before requirements are fully defined. By sharing clearer problem statements and operational context, Defence can better understand available capability, test feasibility, and shape delivery options at speed.

Nathan Hinchliffe, Head of Market Engagement, National Armaments Director Group, said:

Early and continuous engagement with industry allows us to adapt to rapidly evolving requirements, understand what is feasible, and speed up capability. By bringing industry into the conversation earlier and broadening participation, we are creating a more partnership-based approach that is already helping delivery happen faster and unlocking tangible results.

Better access and faster delivery

This approach is widening participation beyond established primes, bringing in Small and Medium -Sized Enterprises (SMEs), academia, and non-traditional suppliers based on capability. Insights gathered from these engagements are directly shaping delivery decisions, particularly in areas such as export processes and procurement routes. For example, industry feedback identified barriers in export approvals, prompting accelerated government-to-government mechanisms and closer coordination with the Export Control Joint Unit (ECJU). As a result, 37 of 47 export licences have been expedited many significantly faster than standard timelines helping priority capabilities to reach partners more quickly.

The Middle East context has also highlighted existing structural pressures in the supply chain, including constraints in critical raw materials and long lead times for key components. In response, NAD is developing Category Strategies to improve access to constrained areas such as Sensors, Rocket Motors, and Energetics. This work improves understanding of assembly capacity and the drivers of long lead times, enabling joint identification of opportunities to compress delivery timelines. Activity is being coordinated across MOD and industry through the DIJC Readiness and Resilience Working Group, ensuring alignment and coherence.

Making this the standard approach

Together, these efforts represent a shift in how Defence works with industry, embedding early, continuous engagement as a core part of delivery. This demonstrates how Defence Reform and the Defence Industrial Strategy are being implemented in practice to improve pace, access, and outcomes for the frontline.

Lessons from Middle East support are now shaping a more sustainable, business-as-usual model, including the development of a Coordinating Authority for Market Engagement. By formalising this approach, MOD aims to create a repeatable and scalable framework that improves industry relationships, supports investment confidence, and ensures rapid and resilient delivery of capability to the warfighter.

The press release issued by the Foreign Office on 16 June 2026.

Mr William Longhurst has been appointed Chargé d’Affaires at the British Embassy in Minsk in succession to Mr David Ward.

Mr Longhurst will take up his appointment during July 2026.

Curriculum Vitae

Full name: William Jesse Longhurst

Year	Role
2024 to 2026	FCDO, Full time Language Training in Russian
2019 to 2024	British Embassy Berne, Deputy Head of Mission and HM Consul-General to Switzerland & Liechtenstein
2019	FCO, Full time Language Training in German
2018	FCO, Deputy Head, Global Britain Task Force
2014 to 2018	Her Majesty’s Ambassador to the Kingdom of Cambodia
2011 to 2013	FCO, Deputy Head, ASEAN Department
2007 to 2011	British Embassy Belgrade, Deputy Head of Mission and HM Consul-General
2006 to 2007	FCO, Full time Language Training in Serbian
2001 to 2006	UK Mission to the United Nations in New York, First Secretary (Finance and Management Reform)
1998 to 2001	Department of Trade and Industry, Head of Exports to Japan Unit
1995 to 1998	British Embassy Tokyo, First Secretary (Commercial)
1992 to 1995	British Embassy Seoul, Third Secretary (Economic), later Second Secretary (Political and Information)
1990 1991	FCO Assistant Desk Officer, Economic Relations Department
1990	Joined Foreign & Commonwealth Office

The press release issued by the Foreign Office on 16 June 2026.

UK Statement on the High Commissioner’s Annual Report. Delivered by the UK’s Human Rights Ambassador, Eleanor Sanders.

Mr President,

Thank you, High Commissioner,

In Iran, the killing of thousands of Iran’s own people, including the continued execution of protesters, lays bare Iran’s longstanding violent suppression of peaceful dissent. This Council condemned that brutality in January, and we remain steadfast in supporting international accountability efforts.

Four years on from your Office’s Xinjiang Assessment, China has not implemented its recommendations. Human rights violations in Xinjiang and Tibet continue. We support your efforts to understand the impact of the Law on Promoting Ethnic Unity and Progress on ethnic and religious minorities.

The situation in Afghanistan is alarming. The erosion of the rights of women and girls, and religious and ethnic minorities, is deeply troubling. As UN reports make clear, Taliban decrees entrench gender inequality, restrict access to justice, and institutionalise religious discrimination. We condemn these laws.

In Russia, the Kremlin claims to act for the Russian people but crushes dissent and uses repressive legislation to create a climate of fear internally while targeting civilian infrastructure in Ukraine. In Russia, people are behind bars for exercising their human rights.

We must shine a spotlight on Russia to hold it to account for its repression of Russian people – and its continued atrocities in Ukraine.

The press release issued by the Foreign Office on 16 June 2026.

Sri Lanka Core Group Statement on the High Commissioner’s Annual Report. Delivered by the UK’s Human Rights Ambassador, Eleanor Sanders.

Thank you Mr President.

This statement is by the Sri Lanka Core Group comprising Canada, Malawi, Montenegro, North Macedonia, and the United Kingdom.

High Commissioner, we thank your Office for its continued work on Sri Lanka.

We acknowledge government efforts to enable communities to commemorate peacefully, and without disruption, the loss of life at the end of the armed conflict in 2009.

While we note some progress in long-standing human rights cases, reports persist of intimidation of witnesses and family members. Meaningful progress in these cases is essential to address impunity and restore public confidence . We also urge necessary reforms to the criminal justice system to expedite prosecutions in other emblematic cases.

We acknowledge developments in certain mass grave investigations. We urge that excavations meet international standards and much greater progress addressing enforced disappearances. Implementation of a credible, inclusive reconciliation process supported by affected communities remains vital.

Ongoing reports of harassment of human rights defenders, especially women defenders, are troubling.

We are also concerned by the continued use of the Prevention of Terrorism Act and urge the Government to introduce legislation consistent with its international human rights obligations.

We stand ready to support Sri Lanka in advancing reforms, in line with its international commitments.

Thank you

The press release issued by the Foreign Office on 16 June 2026.

UK thanks Pakistan for their leadership in brokering the US-Iran peace deal and bolsters joint efforts to tackle illegal immigration into the UK.

• Middle East Minister Hamish Falconer uses a visit to Islamabad to thank Pakistan for their leadership in brokering the US-Iran peace deal.  
• Visit underlines longstanding UK support for stability in the Middle East and for Pakistan’s mediation role. 
• Minister bolsters joint UK-Pakistan efforts to tackle illegal immigration into the UK with additional funding to target underlying drivers which entice people to illegally travel to the UK. 

The UK has welcomed the news of a peace deal between the US and Iran, following intense negotiations brokered by partners including Pakistan.  

On the first day of his visit to Islamabad, Minister for the Middle East, Afghanistan and Pakistan, Hamish Falconer, personally thanked Pakistan’s Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister, Ishaq Dar, for Pakistan’s role in reaching this significant moment.  

He reiterated the UK’s steadfast support for stability in the Middle East, and made clear the UK would continue to do all it could to work with partners such as Pakistan to shore up this opportunity for a lasting peace. 

During his meetings with senior Pakistani leadership, the Minister also committed an additional £8 million to support joint UK–Pakistan efforts to tackle crime and illegal migration. The funding will be used to strengthen border and visa systems and bring in expertise to help Pakistani law enforcement disrupt people‑smuggling and trafficking networks.

It will also support the return of individuals with no right to remain in the UK and fund community‑based programmes in high‑risk areas to address the root causes of illegal migration. This includes support for improving identity and information‑sharing processes, strengthening law enforcement capability to investigate smuggling networks, and expanding community‑based prevention programmes that reduce vulnerability to exploitation. 

Minister for the Middle East, Afghanistan and Pakistan, Hamish Falconer, said: 

The news of a US-Iran deal is a hugely significant moment and I am pleased to convey my personal thanks, and that of the UK, to Pakistan during my visit here in Islamabad. Pakistan has played a critical role in brokering this opportunity for regional stability and we stand ready to work together to support a path to lasting peace. 

The UK-Pakistan partnership is critical for safeguarding global, regional and UK national security – working closely together to tackle terrorist threats, visa fraud and serious organised crime.  

We are taking this partnership and our co-operation to a new level, with additional funding to deter illegal migration and target drivers from the source.

We remain grateful for the role Pakistan has played in facilitating negotiations. The UK and our partners will continue to work together to see the full reopening of the Strait of Hormuz.

On his second visit to the country as an FCDO Minister, the Minister will also witness a live demonstration of joint work by law enforcement to tackle illegal migration. Backed by UK support, this work sees Pakistani authorities intercept non-genuine visa holders at Pakistani airports, ensuring only eligible travellers and students travel to the UK.  

This visit will follow meetings between Minister Falconer and Pakistan’s Ministry of Interior and the Higher Education Commission to discuss closer practical collaboration to deter visa abuse.  

Deepening the UK-Pakistan partnership is critical for ensuring UK and global security, with the UK providing counter-terrorism assistance to Pakistan to train civilians in investigating and prosecuting terrorist cases. As part of his visit, Minister Falconer met with Pakistan’s Special Representative for Afghanistan to discuss the ongoing tensions between Afghanistan and Pakistan, encourage a return to dialogue, and offer UK support to tackle the terrorist threat from Afghanistan. 

The UK government is steadfast in its commitment to secure borders and national security. Building and deepening international partnerships is critical in delivering this.

The press release issued by the Foreign Office on 16 June 2026.

Mr Paul Simister has been appointed His Majesty’s Ambassador to the Republic of Liberia, in succession to Mr Neil Bradley, who has transferred to another Diplomatic Service appointment.

Mr Simister will take up his appointment during June 2026.

Curriculum vitae       

Full name: Paul Richard Simister            

Date	Role
2026	FCDO, Deputy Head, West Africa Department
2025 to 2026	FCDO, Pre-posting Training, Short-term Assignments
2024 to 2025	FCDO, Head, Global Health Security Team, Africa Directorate
2023 to 2024	FCDO, Head, Financial Services Team, International Finance Directorate
2023	FCDO, Head, Climate and Nature Team, Africa Directorate
2021 to 2023	Yaoundé, Development Counsellor and non-resident Deputy Ambassador to Gabon
2019 to 2021	DFID, Senior Private Sector Development Adviser, Climate and Environment Directorate
2018 to 2019	Abidjan, UK Adviser to the African Development Bank
2016 to 2018	DFID, Private Sector Development Adviser, Economic Development Directorate
2016	Joined DFID