The general election of the UK on July 4, 2024, led to the victory of the Labor Party. Labor’s victory has raised questions about the UK’s new foreign policy principles. The new UK government will likely follow more realistic policies in Europe and the world. Starmer’s government must take effective measures such as Brexit, reforming the economy, and signing a stable security agreement with the EU. This article examines the outlook of British foreign policy during the Labor Party period.
Increased diplomatic activity in the early months of the Starmer government
Europe is preparing itself for Trump’s potential administration in America. However, the new UK government seems likely to act as a mediator to keep transatlantic relations healthy. According to estimates, diplomatic movements will increase in the first months of the new Prime Minister Keir Starmer’s tenure. The meeting with the President of the United States, Joe Biden, was on the agenda of the new UK government. The first essential negotiations will be held at the 75th-anniversary meeting of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) on July 9-11, 2024, in Washington, as well as at the bilateral meetings of the European Political Community meeting.
Brexit is an influential factor in the relations between the UK and the EU
Labor’s victory in the general election sends a clear signal to the EU. Britain wants to improve its relations with Europe. One of the essential tasks of Starmer’s government will be to balance post-Brexit ties with the EU and determine the areas of cooperation. London will work to preserve Brexit and advance the goals of Global Britain. It will be necessary to continue cooperation in trade, security, and other areas or restart negotiations. Negotiating new trade agreements and managing economic relations will be based on the UK’s new foreign policy principles. The Starmer government will likely focus on negotiating new bilateral free trade agreements with EU countries.
The Labor Party seeks to de-escalate tensions with China
One of the most critical foreign policy issues is the future of Britain’s relationship with China. In the governments of former Conservative Prime Ministers Liz Truss and Rishi Sunak, confrontation with China was the dominant approach. Ups and downs accompanied the relations between London and Beijing during the last 14 years of the Conservative Party government. The question is whether the Starmer government will get these relations back on track. The positive or harmful nature of these relationships is still unclear. Indeed, the Starmer government and parliament will cooperate and act on China, particularly on issues such as trade and technology. According to estimates, the Labor government is cooperating with China on climate change challenges.
Greater British cooperation with the United States in the Starmer Labor government
It is expected that the UK’s new foreign policy principles will be based on more cooperation than the United States under Keir Starmer’s government. Starmer will be under pressure from the US to strengthen NATO ties, increase defense spending, and strengthen transatlantic relations. During the period when the conservative government was in power, we saw the rise of some tensions between the UK and the United States. However, the evidence suggests that London and Washington will cooperate more in the current situation. The two countries will enter the field with more cooperation in international relations.
China-UK relations if Donald Trump wins
The biggest challenge that Starmer’s government will face in the coming months will be economic relations with China. This issue is inevitable due to the agreement and cooperation between the United States and the UK in the fight against China. The Starmer government will likely find it more difficult to establish a positive dialogue with China. These challenges will arise if Donald Trump is re-elected in the US presidential elections. Trump appears to be increasing pressure on allies to take stricter action against Beijing.
The Labor Party’s priorities regarding the war between Hamas and Israel
In recent years, the Labor Party has established strong ties with Israel. Therefore, the new UK government, which emerged from the Labor Party, is expected to coordinate with the Israelis in foreign policy. An important issue for the Labor Party’s foreign policy in the Middle East is the resolution of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. In this context, guaranteeing an immediate ceasefire in the war between Israel and Hamas, releasing all the hostages, and increasing the humanitarian aid sent to Gaza will be among the main priorities of foreign policy.
Priorities of the Labor Party in the context of Ukraine
Britain has been one of the prominent supporters of Kyiv since the start of the war in Ukraine in 2022. Britain spends more on this country than other European NATO members. The future of support for Ukraine is one of the essential items on the Starmer government’s agenda. The Labor Party tried to show determination in supporting Ukraine during the election campaigns. There will probably be no significant change in this position. As a result, the Starmer government will likely announce its support for Kyiv. In an early meeting, Starmer invited Volodymyr Zelenskyy to the UK.
Immigrant management is an essential challenge for Starmer
Another current challenge of the new government is immigration management. Bilateral security agreements with European countries, particularly with France, will likely be an essential issue to address. On his first day in office, Keir Starmer stopped the controversial plan to deport refugees to Rwanda. This scheme was started during the prime ministership of Boris Johnson and continued by Liz Truss and Rishi Sunak. The plan to send migrants to Rwanda faced extensive legal challenges. Labor members have confirmed that a Tory plan to deport migrants to Rwanda who have entered the UK illegally is effectively dead.
The policy of the Labor Party regarding international security and global crises
Britain needs to review its international security and defense policies, especially in the context of Asia-Pacific strategies. Strengthening relations with NATO and other allies and potentially shifting these partnerships towards the Asia Pacific region will probably have a special place in the UK’s new foreign policy principles. Also, the fight against climate change and sustainable development goals will be significant components of British foreign policy. The way of forming relations, international cooperation, and agreements with China is important in this framework.
UK’s new foreign policy principles: minor changes in former policies
The principles of foreign policy are constant in different countries of the world. Governments are only able to make some minor changes in this field. This also applies to the UK’s new foreign policy principles. During Starmer’s term, the Labor Party will adopt pragmatism and global cooperation in its foreign policy. After 14 years of the Conservative government, Labor’s one-word campaign slogan said it all: “Change”. However, continuity may be a more appropriate word when it comes to major foreign policy issues.
