After the resignation of Boris Johnson, after Lizz Truss’s tenure of about six weeks in the UK, the former Finance Minister Rishi Sunak assumed the responsibility of prime minister. In a period of high instability such as the energy crisis, inflation and political problems, domestic politics has been a very challenging area for Sunak, who became the Prime Minister close to the elections. Contrary to this gloomy atmosphere in domestic politics, it is seen that Sunak’s foreign policy initiatives, both regionally and globally, tried to implement a positive multilateral policy, unlike the Johnson period.
Contrary to Johnson’s distant approach towards the European Union (EU) and European countries after Brexit and after, Sunak adopts a cooperation-oriented approach in relations with the region. In this direction, the agreement of the parties in principle on the Windsor Framework for the Northern Ireland Problem, which is an important area of disagreement between the EU and the UK, has been an important development. The aim of the Windsor Framework is to facilitate the enforcement of customs controls between the UK and Northern Ireland. However, a difficult parliamentary ratification process must be completed before the agreement can be implemented.
Contrary to Johnson’s distant approach towards the European Union (EU) and European countries after Brexit and after, Sunak adopts a cooperation-oriented approach in relations with the region. In this direction, the agreement of the parties in principle on the Windsor Framework for the Northern Ireland Problem, which is an important area of disagreement between the EU and the UK, has been an important development. The aim of the Windsor Framework is to facilitate the enforcement of customs controls between the UK and Northern Ireland. However, a difficult parliamentary ratification process must be completed before the agreement can be implemented.
If the text is not approved, it can be predicted that Sunak’s political career and UK-EU relations will be adversely affected. If the agreement is approved, UK universities and researchers will be able to regain access to the Horizon Programme; It is likely that the trade problems with the EU will be resolved and the UK will become more reliable in trade relations with international partners. For example, the solution of this problem between the UK and the EU may affect the ongoing Free Trade Agreement negotiation process between New Delhi and London. The concerns of Indian businessmen, who see the UK as a wider European market, about Brexit may decrease, and this may give a positive impetus to the agreement process with India.
Although it is unclear whether the Windsor Framework will be ratified or not, Sunak’s adoption of the solution-oriented Windsor Framework to the Northern Ireland Protocol, in the period when the solidarity between the European countries that agreed to support Ukraine against the Russian threat, increased, and the British foreign policy sided with the countries of the region. created a positive atmosphere for cooperation.
As a matter of fact, Sunak went to Paris to improve the tense relations with France, one of the leading actors of Europe, after Brexit. Sunak described this meeting, which was the first France-England meeting after Theresa May’s term, as “a new beginning, a renewed alliance”. Strengthening military ties, continuing support to Ukraine, working for a permanent European naval force deployment in the Indo-Pacific, and the issue of immigration came to the fore at the meeting.[1] Thus, the two countries showed their willingness to assume joint responsibility in ensuring European security.
In addition, the Sunak aimed at immigrants who crossed the English Channel, which is an important problem for England, and went to England illegally with small boats, revealed that they wanted to act in a solution-oriented manner together with France.
A few days after the meeting with French President Emmanuel Macron, Sunak went to California to discuss the details of AUKUS, which they called an important partnership that will increase deterrence in the stability and security of the Indo-Pacific. As it is known, AUKUS was launched on 15 September 2021, aiming to manufacture a nuclear powered submarine for the Royal Australian Navy as a result of the exchange of information on cyber capabilities, artificial intelligence, quantum technologies and additional submarine capabilities between Australia, the UK and the USA, and China’s mission in the Indo-Pacific. announced as a security partnership seeking to limit its growing influence..[2]
A three-stage plan was created in the tripartite meeting held on March 13, 2022 for the implementation of AUKUS.[3] The first phase is to increase deterrence in the Indo-Pacific, with UK and US submarines conducting training exercises in Australia, Australian sailors training in the UK and the US, and the deployment of a Western Submarine Rotation Force made up of US and UK submarines in 2027. The second stage is the purchase of Virginia class submarines by Australia from the USA. The third stage is the production of the SSN-AUKUS submarine, whose design and development studies continue, in England in 2030, and the addition of the SSN-AUKUS submarine, which was built in Austria in 2040, to the inventory of the Austrian Royal Navy.
Both the announcement of a partnership with France in the Indo-Pacific and the continued commitment to AUKUS show that the London administration is willing to position itself as an active actor in the Indo-Pacific region, together with its regional and global partners. This means that the Indo-Pacific trend, often expressed by Johnson in his “Global Britain” ideal, continued in the Altar period.
At the same time, the gathering of leaders for AUKUS shows that a strategic rapprochement has been achieved and strengthens the bond in Transatlantic relations today, where the Russia-Ukraine War continues, China is defined as a threat, and the Indo-Pacific has turned into a stage of inter-power rivalry. On the other hand, acting with partners in the Indo-Pacific policy of the UK not only ensures the development of the defense industry, but also strengthens London’s position in NATO.
In this context, another important initiative of Sunak is to increase defense expenditures. As a matter of fact, the Sunak administration stated that “As the world becomes more volatile and the competition between states becomes more intense, England should be ready to protect itself”, and that they will increase their defense expenditures by 5 billion pounds and continue their efforts to increase defense expenditures to 2.5% of its gross domestic product. It was announced in the 2023 Integrated Review Report published in March 2022.[4]
In fact, this report, which states the goals that the UK is trying to achieve until 2025 in security, defense and foreign policy against the developments in the world, was published in 2021; Due to global developments, the government felt the need for renewal in 2023.
In the 2023 review report, Russia and China came to the fore in terms of protecting the national interests and security of the UK. In the report, it was stated that the first priority of the UK was to combat Russia’s threat to European security and to prevent the Moscow administration from gaining any benefit from the invasion of Ukraine.
It was also stated that China poses an increasing challenge for the UK with its military, financial and diplomatic activities, and therefore, the second priority for London is to develop a coherent approach to China based on national interests and in line with its allies.[5]
In fact, on the occasion of the simultaneous occurrence of the AUKUS meeting and the report, the UK emphasized its commitment to the Euro-Atlantic alliance, the importance it attaches to the protection of European security and the UK’s determination to increase its resilience against China. But by 2022, China has become the UK’s fourth largest trading partner.[6] Considering the mutual economic dependence of Britain and China, it can be argued that London will not want to harm economic relations with China in the short term by adopting a pragmatic policy based on interests, and that economic relations will also affect political relations..
As a result, Sunak makes cost-benefit calculations in foreign policy with a pragmatic approach; It tries to increase the prestige of England in today’s world where geopolitical transformations are experienced by narrowing the areas of conflict in regional and global relations and increasing the areas of cooperation. In this context, Sunak has prepared an agreement with the EU that will solve the problems, planned a summit with France that will melt the ice, and has developed a strategy to achieve the goal of AUKUS, an important partnership in the Indo-Pacific. It is understood that Sunak, who has supported the cooperation in the European side with these policies he has implemented since the day he took his seat as the Prime Minister, and the current policies in the Indo-Pacific dimension, tried to design the British foreign policy in a way that would maintain a relationship based on mutual trust, away from conflict with the allies. It can be said that this effort will give Sunak political and diplomatic success, and will strengthen England’s position in the international arena.
[1] “Macron And Sunak Mend Ties, As Leaders Agree to Tackle Channel Boats”, Euronews, https://www.euronews.com/2023/03/10/macron-and-sunak-try-to-put-relationship-back-on-track-at-paris-summit, (Date of Accession: 22.03.2022).
[2] “Joint Leaders Statement on AUKUS”, The White House, https://www.whitehouse.gov/briefing-room/statements-releases/2021/09/15/joint-leaders-statement-on-aukus/, (Date of Accession: 22.03.2022).
[3] “Background Press Call by Senior Administration Officials on the AUKUS Announcement”, The White House, https://www.whitehouse.gov/briefing-room/press-briefings/2023/03/13/background-press-call-by-senior-administration-officials-on-the-aukus-announcement/, (Date of Accession: 22.03.2022).
[4] “PM Announces Major Defence İnvestment İn Launch Of Integrated Review Refresh”, United Kingdom Government, https://www.gov.uk/government/news/pm-announces-major-defence-investment-in-launch-of-integrated-review-refresh, (Date of Accession: 22.03.2022).
[5] Ibid.
[6] “Trade and İnvestment Factsheets,” United Kingdom Government, https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/1142041/china-trade-and-investment-factsheet-2023-03-17.pdf, (Date of Accession: 23.03.2022).
