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Foreign Policy Centre
@fpcthinktank.bsky.social
The Foreign Policy Centre (FPC) is an outward-looking, non-partisan international affairs think tank based in the UK.
🟣 Today marks the International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women.

In this context of rising militarisation and gender inequality, we revisit, FPC Senior Fellow, Anna Chernova’s op-ed marking 25 years of #UNSCR1325 on #WPS.

📖 (Re)visit the piece:
fpc.org.uk/op-ed-britis...
November 25, 2025 at 10:49 AM
🇺🇸📰🇬🇧 New Op-Ed by Dr Andrew Gawthorpe, FPC Research Fellow

President Trump is threatening to sue the #BBC for up to $5bn for how the Panorama programme edited his January 6 speech. But as Gawthorpe explains, it is not only about winning, it is about intimidating media critics.
November 24, 2025 at 10:17 AM
🌍🇿🇦 New Op-ed by Elizabeth Sidiropoulos, SAIIA

As #SouthAfrica prepares to host the #G20 Summit this weekend, it is using its presidency to prioritise global equity, #DebtSustainability & #development

📖:https://fpc.org.uk/op-ed-africas-moment-south-africas-g20-fight-to-centre-development/
November 21, 2025 at 8:47 AM
🔬✍️The UK’s contributions to #globalhealth have shaped lives, driven progress and led on innovation around the world. However, this form of soft power is under threat. Cuts to funding and shifting global priorities risk undermining “one of Britain’s greatest diplomatic assets.”
November 17, 2025 at 9:24 AM
🇬🇪⚖️Thanks to all who joined us in Parliament on Tuesday for a vital discussion on Georgia’s democratic crisis, from state capture and Russian influence to how the UK can support civil society.

With Eka Gigauri, Nino Evgenidze, Stefan Wolff & Joe Powell MP.
November 13, 2025 at 12:42 PM
🛡️🇬🇧 New Expert Look: UK defence & security under scrutiny

From the 2025 Strategic Defence Review to the Soft Power Council, major shifts are underway — but big questions remain:

🔹 Defence vs aid cuts
🔹 What “NATO first” means
🔹 Building true resilience

📖 fpc.org.uk/expert-look-...
November 12, 2025 at 9:54 AM
🌍 COP30 opened yesterday with urgent calls to honour climate promises and scale up finance for those most affected.

In her article, Sophie Powell of Christian Aid warns UK leadership will ring hollow without a credible finance plan.

📖 Read: fpc.org.uk/at-cop30-uk-...
November 11, 2025 at 11:43 AM
📰 Who is standing up for #MediaFreedom — and who is not?

A new FPC article by Martin Scott & Mel Bunce introduces the first global Index assessing how 30 states support media freedom via foreign policy, diplomacy, aid & journalist safety.

📖📊 Read: fpc.org.uk/who-is-stand...
November 10, 2025 at 9:16 AM
🌍✍️ New FPC article: At COP30, UK Leadership Requires Paying Up on #ClimateFinance By Sophie Powell, Chief of UK Advocacy at Christian Aid

📖 fpc.org.uk/op-ed-at-cop...
November 7, 2025 at 10:06 AM
🇬🇧✍️ New Op-Ed by Patrick Stevens, Rule of Law Director at International Justice Development & UK Soft Power Council member

How can the UK more strategically harness its #softpower – from cultural reach and education to diplomacy and legal expertise?

📖 Read: fpc.org.uk/op-ed-uk-sof...
November 5, 2025 at 2:58 PM
🧭✍️ Trump’s Central Asia Gambit by FPC Fellow Alex Folkes

As President Trump prepares to meet leaders of Kazakhstan, Turkmenistan, Kyrgyzstan, Uzbekistan & Tajikistan on 6 Nov, what are the aims and implications of this move?

📖 Read the full piece: fpc.org.uk/op-ed-trumps...
November 4, 2025 at 9:53 AM
🗞️ Ending Impunity for Crimes Against Journalists
More than a decade after the UN declared 2 Nov the Intl Day to #EndImpunity for crimes against journalists, impunity persists.

In a new FPC piece, Fiona O’Brien @rsf.org calls for urgent action.

➡️🔗 fpc.org.uk/op-ed-if-we-...
November 3, 2025 at 12:47 PM
🕊️🇺🇳 Today marks 25 years since #UNSCR1325 on Women, Peace & Security

To mark #WPS25, Anna Chernova reflects on UK leadership as WPS penholder & challenges ahead.

📖https://fpc.org.uk/op-ed-british-soft-power-and-increasing-defence-holding-the-pen-on-gender-in-an-age-of-violence/
October 31, 2025 at 10:12 AM
🗳️ New Op-Ed: Georgian Elections – Unpacking the Fallout of 4th October by Davit Jintcharadze

Georgia’s recent local elections saw record-low turnout, a partial opposition boycott, and renewed concerns over electoral integrity.

📖 Read: fpc.org.uk/op-ed-georgi...
October 30, 2025 at 11:25 AM
🔍 New FPC Long Read: Dealing with the #SanctionsBubble in #Georgia
By Dr Ilya Roubanis & Co-author

Sanctions on Russia were meant to constrain — instead, they’ve enabled a global ecosystem of intermediaries, offshore hubs & political enablers.

📄 Read: fpc.org.uk/dealing-with...
October 29, 2025 at 10:14 AM
📢 Happening Tomorrow! | Webinar hosted by FPC & @sepad.bsky.social

Forging New Futures: Looking Ahead at the #MENA Region
📅 Tues 28 Oct | ⏰ 12:30–13:30 UK | 📍 Zoom

Register here: us02web.zoom.us/webinar/regi...
October 27, 2025 at 2:02 PM
📖 New long read: The New 1730s – Lessons from Britain’s Historic Involvement in #EasternEurope by Dan Sperrin

How should the UK respond to the current Ukraine war after 3+ years of conflict? Dan turns to the past — drawing on Britain’s history in the region.

Read: fpc.org.uk/the-new-1730...
October 24, 2025 at 8:16 AM
🗳️🇳🇱 New Op-ed: The enduring relevance of the Far Right ahead of the #DutchElection
By Prof. @stijntvankessel.bsky.social

Ahead of the 29 Oct vote, far-right narratives continue to shape Dutch politics.

🔗 Read: fpc.org.uk/op-ed-the-en...
October 22, 2025 at 10:37 AM
📢 One Week to Go! - Webinar w/ @sepad.bsky.social
Forging New Futures: Looking Ahead at the #MENA Region
🗓️ Tue 28 Oct | ⏰ 12:30–13:30 UK

🔗 Register now: us02web.zoom.us/webinar/regi...
October 21, 2025 at 8:25 AM
🔵 FPC at Conservative Party Conference 2025

From 5–8 Oct, FPC’s Izzy Cutts & Stevie Wolfe joined #CPC25 in Manchester, engaging in fringe events on foreign policy, aid, #corruption & the UK’s global role.

Key takeaways ⬇️
October 10, 2025 at 11:13 AM
📢 Upcoming Webinar! Forging New Futures: Looking Ahead at the #MENA Region w/ @sepad.bsky.social
📅 Tues 28 Oct | 🕧 12:30–13:30 (UK)

Register here➡️ us02web.zoom.us/webinar/regi...

For more info visit the event page: fpc.org.uk/events/forgi...
October 9, 2025 at 12:47 PM
🗳️⚖️ New Op-ed by Mohammad Al Abdallah, Jalal Alhamad & Riad Ali

On 5 Oct, #Syria held its first parliamentary #elections since regime change — but the process entrenched executive control, sidelining accountability and reform.

🔗 Read: fpc.org.uk/op-ed-the-fi...
October 7, 2025 at 8:44 AM
🔹 Rule of law framed as key to UK’s global identity
🔹 David Lammy outlined Labour’s “#ProgressiveRealism”
🔹 Aid cuts & future funding raised across fringes
🔹 Calls to protect #UKsoftpower & the #BBCWorldService
💷 Illicit Finance Summit confirmed for 2026
October 2, 2025 at 10:53 AM
📢 As co-chair of the UK Anti-SLAPP Coalition, Susan used the conference to engage on legal intimidation and SLAPPs — with the Lib Dems currently the only UK party with a formal anti-SLAPP commitment in their manifesto.
🔗 antislapp.uk/about/

📸 Take a look at FPC’s time in Bournemouth ⬇️
September 26, 2025 at 9:04 AM
Our 2020 article by journalists Peter Sabo & Pavla Holcová remains highly relevant — tracing how UK-linked entities & offshore jurisdictions enable corruption & block justice.

📖 Read it here: fpc.org.uk/tracking-cor...
September 25, 2025 at 1:52 PM