Tag: Foreign Office

The press release issued by the Foreign Office on 23 December 2025.

Statement by Ambassador Archie Young, UK Deputy Permanent Representative to the UN, at the UN Security Council meeting on Venezuela.

We have long been clear that Nicolás Maduro’s claim to power lacks legitimacy.  

Venezuela’s National Electoral Council has still failed to publish the full results of the July 2024 Presidential elections after 18 months. 

Independent domestic and international reports observed significant irregularities and a lack of transparency. 

Meanwhile, political freedoms in Venezuela remain severely restricted. The human rights situation continues to deteriorate. Its political and judicial systems continue to erode.  

We remain deeply concerned about ongoing repression in Venezuela, and the everyday struggles of Venezuelans. 

This includes extreme levels of poverty and failing basic services which are precipitating a displacement crisis affecting the whole region. 

The United Kingdom stands firmly with the people of Venezuela in their pursuit of a democratic future. 

The voices of all Venezuelans need to be heard; they deserve a government which reflects their will at the ballot box.   

We will continue to work to achieve a peaceful, negotiated transition in Venezuela which ensures that the will of all Venezuelans is respected. 

As we said in October, drug trafficking and organised crime continue to endanger communities across the globe, undermining stability and putting our shared security at risk. 

We will continue to work with partners in Latin America and elsewhere to tackle this issue and address challenges. 

President, the United Kingdom reaffirms its unwavering commitment to the principles enshrined in the United Nations Charter.  

We believe these foundations are essential for maintaining global peace, security, and the rule of law. 

The UN Convention on the Law of the Sea is the cornerstone of international law on ocean-related issues. The United Kingdom will always support international law and the upholding of it.  

We continue to monitor this situation closely.

The press release issued by the Foreign Office on 23 December 2025.

Statement by Ambassador Archie Young, UK Deputy Permanent Representative to the UN, at the UN Security Council meeting on Iran.

Today, I will focus first on the need for Iran to provide access to the International Atomic Energy Agency. Then, on our continued commitment to a diplomatic solution. And, third, on the need for all member states to comply fully with Security Council resolutions.

First, as has been reported today, Iran has restricted access for the International Atomic Energy Agency for over six months, including at the sites of greatest proliferation concern.

This is despite the IAEA making clear that there is no technical or equipment-related reason preventing them from returning to the damaged sites.

Iran’s restrictions mean that the IAEA is unable to verify the location of Iran’s enriched uranium stockpile. 

This includes over 400kg of high enriched uranium, for which there is no credible civilian justification.

We call on Iran urgently to lift its restrictions and fully cooperate with the IAEA, in line with its legal obligations under the Non-Proliferation Treaty.

Second, the United Kingdom remains committed to a diplomatic solution to address international concerns with Iran’s nuclear programme.

We urge Iran to engage in direct talks with the US. 

The UK, alongside its E3 partners, stands ready to support a diplomatic solution. We are engaging with all interlocutors and continue to encourage both sides to return to the negotiating table.

Future sanctions relief remains possible should Iran take concrete, verifiable, and durable steps to address international concern with its nuclear programme.

Third, we call on Iran and all member states to comply fully with Security Council decisions on Iran’s nuclear programme.

As a result of Iran’s significant non-performance of its JCPoA commitments, the United Kingdom, alongside France and Germany, triggered the snapback process in full accordance with Security Council resolution 2231.

This process completed on 28 September. 

As a result, Council resolution 2231 remains in force, and the provisions of the six resolutions previously lifted have come back into effect.

All UN Member States should fully comply with the provisions of the relevant resolutions. 

We are particularly concerned by the suggestion from certain permanent Council members that they will not do so. 

We reiterate the importance that all members of this Council seek to maintain international peace and security.

The press release issued by the Foreign Office on 23 December 2025.

Explanation of Vote by Ambassador Archie Young, UK Deputy Permanent Representative to the UN, at the UN Security Council meeting on Somalia.

The United Kingdom welcomes the unanimous adoption of this resolution, which authorises the African Union Support and Stabilisation Mission to continue its essential role in strengthening stability and security in Somalia with the support of the United Nations through UNSOS. 

We thank all Council members for their constructive approach to the negotiations on this text. 

Today’s adoption follows the recent extension of the Al-Shabaab sanctions regime. 

Taken together, these decisions demonstrate the Council’s continued determination to support Somalia in its fight against Al-Shabaab.

The resolution we have adopted today is clear-eyed about the challenges of the underfunding of AUSSOM and UNSOS’s liquidity shortfall. 

This mandate, therefore, creates a process to enable an informed review of the logistical support provided by the UN. 

We look forward to working closely with Council members on this in June.

Somalia has made enormous progress since the Security Council first authorised the deployment of AMISOM in 2007. 

To ensure its support to Somalia remains targeted and effective, the Council’s decision-making must continue to be informed by a comprehensive understanding of the national context into which AUSSOM is deployed.

Finally, I pay tribute to the brave personnel of AUSSOM and its predecessors who paid the ultimate price in support of these missions, alongside the many Somali forces and civilians who have lost their lives in the fight against terrorism in Somalia.

The press release issued by the Foreign Office on 22 December 2025.

Statement by Ambassador James Kariuki, UK Chargé d’Affaires to the UN, on Myanmar.

This morning, the Security Council will meet privately to discuss the situation in Myanmar.  

We will hear updates from ASEAN Special Envoy Othman Hashim and the UN Special Envoy Julie Bishop.

Nearly five years since the Myanmar military overturned the democratically elected government,  the UK remains deeply concerned at the ongoing violence. 

The military must de-escalate and cease its violence, including airstrikes on civilians.   

Targeted attacks against civilians and civilian infrastructure must stop. 

We strongly condemn the recent airstrike on a hospital in Rakhine State this month, which killed more than 30 civilians.

The humanitarian situation in Myanmar also remains catastrophic. 

Over 16 million people will require life-saving assistance in 2026.  

The UK has provided over $100 million this fiscal year. But financial support can only have real impact if access is granted. 

Finally, the UK is clear: any meaningful election requires an end to violence and dialogue amongst all parties concerned. 

And there are no indications that the planned elections will be perceived as free or fair.  

Elections under current circumstances risk provoking further violence and make a long-term solution more elusive.   

The UK reiterates our support for ASEAN’s central role in pursuit of a solution to the ongoing crisis.   

We stand in solidarity with the people of Myanmar and their desire for a peaceful, inclusive, and democratic future. 

We will keep the Myanmar crisis on the Council’s agenda.

The press release issued by the Foreign Office on 15 December 2025.

In her first public speech, the new Chief of MI6 Blaise Metreweli will set out how MI6 is tackling new and emerging threats to the UK and its allies.

• new MI6 Chief underlines power of human agency in tackling new threats to UK security
• in first public speech, Blaise Metreweli will say that MI6 is keeping Brits safe in a world where the rules of conflict are being rewritten, by Russia and other hostile actors  
• speech builds on Foreign Secretary’s Locarno Centenary speech which highlighted how the UK is utilising partnerships and technology to respond to new hybrid and information threats

In her first public speech, the new Chief of MI6 Blaise Metreweli will set out today (Monday 15 December) how MI6 is tackling new and emerging threats to the UK and its allies.

The Chief will describe the increasingly complex and interconnected nature of global threats, ranging from technological disruption and hybrid threats to terrorism and information manipulation.

Speaking from inside MI6 HQ, Metreweli will describe how the UK is evolving to meet these challenges, through building partnerships and harnessing the technology needed to protect our national security and stay ahead of our adversaries.

Mastery of technology must infuse everything we do. Not just in our labs, but in the field, in our tradecraft, and even more importantly, in the mindset of every officer. We must be as comfortable with lines of code as we are with human sources, as fluent in Python as we are in multiple languages …

Focusing on the new hybrid threat landscape the UK faces, Blaise Metreweli will call out the acute threat posed by an “aggressive, expansionist, and revisionist” Russia.

Putin should be in no doubt, our support is enduring. The pressure we apply on Ukraine’s behalf will be sustained.

The export of chaos is a feature not a bug in the Russian approach to international engagement, and we should be ready for this to continue until Putin is forced to change his calculus.

This builds on recent UK actions to expose and disrupt harmful activities threatening our national security, as the Foreign Secretary outlined the modern threats the UK now faces through information warfare. In response, the UK has sanctioned several Russian entities delivering the Kremlin’s information warfare, and 2 China-based companies for their campaign of indiscriminate cyber activities against the UK and its allies.

The Chief will conclude today’s speech by emphasising the importance of human agency in tackling traditional and emerging threats to our national security.

The defining challenge of the twenty-first century is not simply who wields the most powerful technologies, but who guides them with the greatest wisdom. Our security, our prosperity, and our humanity depend on it …

We all have choices to make ahead about how we deal with the undercurrents shaping the world. About how, in our new, faster, more dangerous and tech-mediated world, it will be our rediscovery of our shared humanity, our ability to listen, and our courage that will determine how our future unfolds …

It is not what we can do that defines us, but what we choose to do. That choice – the exercise of human agency – has shaped our world before, and it will shape it again …

The press release issued by the Foreign Office on 14 December 2025.

Delivered by Kumar Iyer, Ambassador and Permanent Representative for the UK Mission to the WTO and UN in Geneva.

Thank you Chair.

Responding to your recommendations on agriculture, we accept and note the difficulties in making progress noted by the CoASS Chair and we can see value to Members in a political discussion which can advance the agenda such as clear guidance on scope and stepping stones. Like others have said, we would urge keeping the discussions to be narrowly focused to only focus on areas where progress is possible and the UK stands ready to engage as needed.

On fish we think that a Ministerial recommitment post MC14 work is worthwhile as expressed by the Seychelles and others on Wednesday. We also welcome the new appointment of Ambassador Ramsammy as Chair and look forward to working with him.

On CTD SS we welcome the constructive approach of the G90 and the focus on process and moving substantive technical elements of the discussions on TBT, SPS and TRIPS to the relevant committees.

On Services, we support your recommendations. The Trade for Services for Development Conference last week showed why this is such an important file for the development agenda. Overall, we welcome the realistic assessments that in most cases, no substantive negotiated outcome is likely on the TNC file at MC14. We believe this helps create space and focus for the items to discuss next week, you have asked us to not list them so I will not list the priorities for the UK, but I’m sure there will be no surprise for the other Members in this room.

The press release issued by the Foreign Office on 12 December 2025.

The UK and others recall that human rights and fundamental freedoms are essential for lasting peace and security.

Thank you, Mr. Chair,

I am delivering this statement on behalf of Canada, Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway, Switzerland, and my own country the United Kingdom.

Against the backdrop of Russia’s ongoing, war of aggression against Ukraine, and Russia’s repeated efforts to destabilize our region through disinformation and hybrid threats sustaining the OSCE’s focus on security cooperation has never been more vital. 

From the Helsinki Final Act to the Charter of Paris to the Astana Declaration participating States have affirmed repeatedly that security is comprehensive in nature; that human rights are not peripheral; that they are at the core of this Organization’s work and our commitments.

Moreover, since the Moscow Meeting of 1991, participating States have expressly confirmed that human rights, fundamental freedoms, democracy and rule of law are “matters of direct and legitimate concern to all participating States and do not belong exclusively to the internal affairs of the State concerned.” 

As we mark Human Rights Day in 2025, we must all reaffirm our commitment to respect human rights and fundamental freedoms and recall that they are the underpinning of lasting peace and security. 

Discussing human rights is essential to our work; it is part of the dialogue needed to restore security in our region.

It is in this context that we express our deep concern about the following situations.

Seven interim reports of ODIHR’s Ukraine Monitoring Initiative and multiple Moscow Mechanism expert missions have concluded that, in relation to its war of aggression against Ukraine, the Russian Federation has repeatedly violated international humanitarian law and international human rights law notably in its treatment of Ukrainian children, civilian detainees and prisoners of war.

Domestically, internal repression in Russia – which targets opposition, civil society and independent journalists, among others – is clearly linked to external aggression.

In Belarus, the authorities have pursued a relentless campaign to shut down civil society, silence independent media and eliminate any form of political opposition. Thousands have been unjustly detained, subjected to torture and ill-treatment, or forced into exile.   

In Georgia, restrictions on civil society and media independence threaten to suffocate public dissent, and the lack of investigation of reports of excessive use of force against peaceful protesters creates a dangerous atmosphere of impunity.

In Serbia, police raids on civil society organizations and repeated incidents of violence surrounding the ongoing protests contribute to a shrinking democratic space.

In Azerbaijan, although there have been positive steps towards peace with Armenia, severe local restrictions on civil society and independent media continue to cause deep concern.

 And in Turkmenistan, the lack of information about historic cases of enforced disappearances and intimidation continue to raise deep concern.

No participating State has a perfect human rights record, but it is our shared responsibility to ensure that human rights are respected, protected, and fulfilled across our region.