Statement from Coalition for Global Prosperity Chief Executive Ryan Henson on the election of the UK’s next Prime Minister.

This time last year we all witnessed the horrific images of Afghans desperately trying to flee their homes, frantically gathering at the airport, as Kabul fell to the Taliban and Western troops withdrew. One year on, Taliban fighters have been parading in the streets as they mark the anniversary and a national holiday has been declared.

Throughout the contest to choose the next UK Prime Minister and Leader of the Conservative Party, there has been an absence of debate on the UK’s foreign policy challenges.

The Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office’s (FCDO) International Development Strategy[↗] (IDS), published in March this year, is an effort to set priorities for the United Kingdom’s (UK) development in light of a changed geopolitical context. It looks to ensure that development is a part of a coherent British foreign policy approach in line with its national interests.

The Coalition for Global Prosperity hosted a discussion to look into how the UK can be a world leader in tackling human trafficking in supply chains.

The conference brought together over 600 faith, belief, government and civil society leaders from 100 countries to urge increased global action on Freedom of Religion or Belief (FoRB) for all.

This was a momentous summit for NATO. Not only did their membership grow by two, but Australia, Japan, New Zealand and the Republic of Korea participated in a NATO summit for the first time, highlighting the increased urgency felt by the Allied leaders and their key partners.

This year’s G7 was always going to be focused on the invasion of Ukraine. All other issues on the agenda appeared to take a back seat as leaders worked to demonstrate solidarity and commitment to their support of Ukraine whilst also trying to spend time on climate change and food security.

What happened at the recent Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting and why does it matter?

The primary and most commonly understood role of the British Armed Forces is to be responsible for the defence of the United Kingdom, its Overseas Territories and the Crown Dependencies. However, it is less commonly known that they are frequently deployed to support peacekeeping and humanitarian operations, acting as a key part of Britain’s soft power.

Coalition for Global Prosperity Advisory Council member Professor Dominic McVey has been awarded an MBE in the Queen’s Birthday Honours list.

An update regarding the applications to the Coalition for Global Prosperity’s Summer Internship.

This week, the Foreign Affairs Committee published the first report on the withdrawal from Afghanistan. The report rightly highlights that there was a distinct lack of planning, preparation and coordination between Government departments, resulting in chaotic scenes at Kabul International Airport, with many eligible Afghans being left behind, and incredible pressures being placed on our brave Armed Forces and Civil Servants on the ground.

The Coalition for Global Prosperity hosted a panel discussion on the UK’s role in Ukraine and what the UK can do following the conflict.

With all covid restrictions lifted in the UK, we are returning to a level of normality for the first time in over two years. However, we enjoy this freedom with bated breath as at any moment the emergence of a new and more dangerous variant of the virus could swiftly plunge us back into the chaos of early 2020; rising death tolls, economic decline and an NHS in crisis.

At last, we have an International Development Strategy for the year 2022, not 2002, one that responds to the world as it is, not the world of years gone by.

Lebanon is a country beset by economic and political challenges but I have witnessed first-hand the life-saving impact which British expertise is having on some of the poorest communities in that country.

Advisory Council member Professor Dominic McVey today spoke to GB News about the importance of the UK’s overseas aid spending and the positive impact that it can have for UK tax payers.

The Coalition for Global Prosperity were delighted to host a foreign policy roundtable with Shadow Foreign Secretary David Lammy MP and former International Development Secretary Rt Hon Douglas Alexander.

As Russian forces pulled back from Kyiv, the horrifying accounts of rape and sexual violence being committed against Ukrainian women began to multiply.