9th April 2026
The Gulf, Berlin and the Commission on the Status of Women: building global alliances to advance women’s progress
Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office Blogs
A unique insight into UK foreign and development policy
26th February 2026
Different Memories, Shared Futures: Why Inclusive Remembrance Matters for Serbia and the Region
22nd December 2025
Continuing to grow the global alliance for women and girls
8th September 2015 Los Angeles, USA
2015: A Space Blogyssey Part 2
with contributions by Stefania Di Mauro-Nava *This is part 2 of a multi-part blog series on the UK space sector* Led by Innovate UK, with support from UK Trade and Investment (UKTI) and the UK Science and Innovation Network (UK SIN), nine representatives from UK-based start-ups in the space and nanosatellite applications sector got the […]
7th September 2015 Khartoum
Back in Sudan Again
The first question almost everybody has asked me since I arrived back in Sudan after a gap of over 30 years is ‘has Sudan changed?’ I was last here in the early 1980s teaching English in a Secondary School in the northern town of Ed Damer. There are of course lots of new buildings in […]
7th September 2015 Skopje, North Macedonia
“Be a sponge, not a stone” and 6 other tips for communicating across cultures
If you ever you get the chance to speak to students at the Preparing Global Leaders Institute (PGLI) course, snap it up. Few weeks ago I was back in Struga, on the shores of Lake Ohrid in Macedonia’s sun-blessed south, to do just that. Actually, any opportunity to speak with a group of students is […]
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7th September 2015 Geneva, Switzerland
The Tragedy and Reality of Europe’s Refugee and Migration Crisis
Who could fail to be moved by the photograph last week of the little Syrian boy on a Turkish beach? We have long grown numb to the statistics of the Syrian conflict yet here was a picture that captured with blinding clarity the human tragedy. Hundreds of little Aylans have drowned in the Mediterranean far […]
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5th September 2015 London, UK
#FreeEstonKohver
This is the hashtag that thousands of people in Estonia and around Europe have been adding to their social media postings in the last few months. I’m glad to add it to my blog too. Who is Eston Kohver? He’s an Estonian security services officer, who was abducted from Estonia on 5 September last year, […]
4th September 2015
This post was published when the author was in a previous role
THE 74th ANNIVERSARY OF THE FIRST OF THE ARCTIC CONVOYS
My latest regional visit took me to the historical city of Arkhangelsk, which lies on the banks of the Northern Dvina River in north west Russia. Arkhangelsk is a fascinating city which is full of rich British/Russian history and indeed is where the British/Russian relationship began following the arrival of the explorer and navigator Richard […]
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4th September 2015 Yerevan, Armenia
Leaving Armenia with optimism
On Saturday 5 September I leave Yerevan for the last time. I’ll be transforming back into a normal person after 3+ years of being driven around (thanks Edik and Aram) with a Union Jack on the car bonnet. It’s been a privilege to represent Her Majesty’s Government in this young/old nation; to meet such a […]
3rd September 2015
This post was published when the author was in a previous role
Agents of Change
I was recently asked to speak at an event about the future of Bosnia and Herzegovina. I was the only speaker. I was happy to be there, but to be honest I thought it was a bit odd. I’m a foreign diplomat who has lived here for a year. Why should I be better qualified […]
2nd September 2015 London, UK
The United Kingdom and the United Arab Emirates: strategic partners for generations to come
Yesterday I returned to the UAE. The Middle Eastern destination I have frequented the most since becoming a Member of the UK’s Parliament. I am delighted to be back and witness yet again the generosity of the Emirati culture and the common ties which bind us; from regional security matters to growing commercial ties covering […]
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2nd September 2015 Bandar Seri Begawan, Brunei
Brunei’s latest Chevening Scholar
I was pleased to host a farewell reception on Tuesday for our latest Chevening scholar, Senior Superintendent Dinah Amat Daud. Dinah will be starting her studies in the UK later this month – MA in Applied Security Strategy at the Institute of Security and Strategy at the University of Exeter. She was clearly delighted to […]