In Conversation with Rt Hon Tobias Ellwood MP

On Wednesday 21st July, our CEO Ryan Henson, interviewed former Minister in the Foreign Office and the Ministry of Defence and now Chair of the House of Commons Defence Committee Rt Hon Tobias Ellwood MP. The conversation provided a passionate discussion on all things Global Britain covering the key international challenges of today including the vital importance of aid as a soft power tool and the need for ‘Sputnik moments’ where the extent of the threat of both China and the climate crisis are realised.

There were also fascinating questions from prominent figures in UK development around data science, lessons from Afghanistan, foreign policy on Africa and the need for a new overarching approach to conflict.

On the impact of the aid cuts

Tobias Ellwood, a vocal supporter for returning to the 0.7% aid budget, explained that aid spending equals soft power, which is essential alongside hard power to continue Britain’s international influence. He said there is a need to celebrate Britain’s aid and development capabilities more, as they are central to our global reputation and leadership.  

“Operationally this reduction will affect our programmes on the ground, reputationally it will hit us, as this is something around the world we are seen as doing really well.” 

Ellwood emphasised that, most worryingly, when aid cuts lead to programmes being reduced, it leaves a vacuum within unstable countries that can be exploited by extremist groups or filled by competitors such as China or Russia who will pursue very different soft power agendas. He continued to stress concern over the trajectory of global stability, with the next few years being critical. 

“We have a few years to determine how the next few decades play out, that is why we need to up our game.”

“This is the case: growing complex threats; lack of international leadership; major powers re-arming; international institutions unable to hold member states to account. You have to ask yourself which nations are willing to step forward, as we have done in the past, and lead others to find those solutions. That is what Britain should be doing, it is part of our DNA”

On the Integrated Review 

Asked about the combination of hard and soft power in the Integrated Review, Ellwood said the review correctly recognised the changing character of conflict, with there now being a lot of acts beneath the threshold of direct war that can have significant effect, for example through cyber interference. 

On China

Much of the discussion focused on the rise of China. Ellwood described a new form of Cold War with developing over soft power, with China advancing their belt and road programme and gifting technology and military equipment to countries across the world. He continued that over the next couple of decades the world will continue splintering into two spheres, with the West, which is shrinking, on the one side and China, with its growing influence, on the other. Later on in the discussion, Ellwood said that responding to China was an opportunity for Global Britain to lead, he suggested this could be done through a bolstered G7 to include Australia, Korea and India which would equate to over half the world’s GDP and enable the reestablishment of a set of trading and security rules and values.

On G7

Ellwood described the G7 as a vital opportunity for the West to regroup in the face of challenges from China and Russia as well as rising authoritarianism, extremism and the climate crisis.

On Afghanistan

Ellwood cited Afghanistan as a key example of the consequences of not combining soft and hard power. He said when Britain goes into countries our army is designed to create an umbrella of security under which activity must happen to ensure there is enduring peace. 

“Too often we have won the war but lost the peace”

On Increasing Whitehall’s Foreign Policy Bandwidth 

Ellwood discussed the need for an increased bandwidth in Whitehall, with the dominance of Brexit and then Covid-19 over the last decade, distracting Britain from the global stage. He suggested that if we are serious about Global Britain taking a larger role on the world stage, we need to adapt current structures. He said a deputy Prime Minister responsible for foreign policy, aid and trade would facilitate better coordination and international proactivity. 

On the Climate Crisis

Reflecting on the need to frame climate change as a national security issue, Ellwood said if we do not adjust and adapt in the next couple of years there is going to be a massive crisis. He looked ahead to COP26, citing dealing with China as a key challenge, needing to find a balance between challenging errand behaviour whilst gaining cooperation to tackle the climate crisis.