Kemi Badenoch’s Vision for a Realistic Foreign Policy
Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch is set to deliver a compelling speech focused on advocating for putting British interests at the forefront of foreign policy. In her address at the Policy Exchange think tank, Badenoch will emphasize the necessity of being realistic regarding certain international partnerships and the importance of disengaging from global bodies that have been compromised by activists or authoritarian regimes such as China and Russia.
She is expected to state, “We’ve let ourselves be fooled into believing that international law alone can keep the peace. But when faced with a regime that shows no respect for the law, we need to be realistic. We can no longer simply put our trust in international partnerships or supranational institutions as ends in themselves.”
Badenoch will also highlight the dangers of international law being manipulated by non-governmental organizations (NGOs) and other critics who seek to promote an activist political agenda through international institutions and domestic courts. She will assert, “If international bodies are taken over by activists, or by autocratic regimes, we must use our influence to halt their actions. And if that fails, we will need to disengage.”
Earlier this month, Badenoch challenged Keir Starmer to prioritize national interests over the European Convention on Human Rights (ECHR), particularly during a heated debate concerning the decision to permit a Palestinian family to settle in the UK. Furthermore, she has hinted at the possibility of advocating for the UK’s exit from the ECHR altogether.
During her speech, Badenoch will assert that it is “not a selfish objective” to strive for the strengthening of the UK and to prioritize national welfare, while also warning that the nation may face “painful decisions on government spending” in the context of defense funding. She will emphasize that the UK’s foreign policy must fundamentally support national interests, stating, “sovereignty must be at the core of our foreign policy.”
She is expected to elaborate, “A nation state’s primary purpose is to defend its borders, its values, and its people. That is not a selfish objective; it is realism—because you cannot help others if you cannot help yourself. Strengthening Britain must be the principal objective at the heart of everything we do.”
The Labour Party has accused Badenoch of being part of a Conservative government that has weakened the armed forces, increased reliance on Putin for energy, and diminished the UK’s standing on the global stage.
This speech comes just days before Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer embarks on a trip to Washington, where he is anticipated to engage in discussions about Russia’s war in Ukraine with Donald Trump, while also seeking to address a growing transatlantic rift. The divide between Washington and Europe deepened recently when the US opposed a UN resolution, drafted by Kyiv and its European allies, which condemned Moscow’s aggression.
During his visit, Sir Keir is expected to advocate for a US “backstop” to a peace agreement in Ukraine, as well as address issues related to defense spending. The Prime Minister is under increasing pressure to utilize this opportunity to confirm a timeline for raising UK defense spending to 2.5% of national income.
