British Foreign Policy Group
bfpg.bsky.social
British Foreign Policy Group
@bfpg.bsky.social
As Kier Starmer embarked on the first trip by a UK Prime Minister to China in 8 years, our Director @evieaspinall.bsky.social spent the morning on Sky News discussing the trip and providing analysis on what it means for UK-China relations and the UK more broadly.
BFPG Director Evie Aspinall speaks to Sky News about Keir Starmer’s visit to China
YouTube video by British Foreign Policy Group
www.youtube.com
January 30, 2026 at 10:56 AM
Our director @evieaspinall.bsky.social spoke to Politico about the Prime Ministers trip to Beijing. She discusses the importance of a public China strategy from UK government to help business and civil society engage with China.
‘Lecturing will get you nowhere’: 5 China experts on how Starmer should play his trip
POLITICO asked Beijing watchers —including an ex-diplomat and former minister — to offer advice to the British PM as he arrives in Beijing.
www.politico.eu
January 28, 2026 at 10:56 AM
On Wednesday, Director @evieaspinall.bsky.social appeared on the Media Show to discuss the value of the BBC World Service as a soft power asset, and a tool for promoting truth, democracy, accountability and human rights.
BFPG Director Evie Aspinall speaks to the Media Show on the importance of the World Sevice for the UK's global influence - BBC Radio 4 - British Foreign Policy Group
BFPG Director Evie Aspinall spoke to BBC Radio 4's Media Show, to discuss the value of the BBC World Service as a soft power asset, and a tool for promoting truth, democracy, accountability and human ...
bfpg.co.uk
January 23, 2026 at 4:38 PM
Our Director @evieaspinall.bsky.social spoke spoke to Steve Holden on LBC about the Prime Minister’s response to Presdient Donald Trump’s threats of tariffs on the UK and other European allies over Greenland.
BFPG Director Evie Aspinall speaks to LBC about Keir Starmer's response on Greenland - British Foreign Policy Group
BFPG Director Evie Aspinall spoke to Steve Holden on LBC about the Prime Minister's response to Presdient Donald Trump's threats of tariffs on the UK and other European allies over Greenland
bfpg.co.uk
January 22, 2026 at 11:02 AM
This morning the Prime Minister set out the UK's position on Greenland, tariffs, and the relationship with the United States in a speech in Downing Street.

Senior Researcher @jackpannell.bsky.social reflects on the key takeaways from his address to the nation. bfpg.co.uk/2026/01/star...
What we learned from Keir Starmer’s speech on Greenland and UK-US Relations of the world order - British Foreign Policy Group
BFPG summarises the key takeaways from Starmer's statement on Trump's threats to impose tariffs on the UK over Greenland.
bfpg.co.uk
January 19, 2026 at 3:59 PM
2026 has arrived in dramatic fashion with US attacks on Venezuela. BFPG Director @evieaspinall.bsky.social and Senior Researcher @jackpannell.bsky.social reflect on what it all means for the future of global stability, norms and values and how the UK should respond.

bfpg.co.uk/2026/01/sove...
Sovereignty, moral high grounds and the future of the world order - British Foreign Policy Group
As President Trump attacks Venezuela and leaves key UN institutions, BFPG explores what it means for future global norms and security.
bfpg.co.uk
January 9, 2026 at 11:27 AM
BFPG was delighted to host an event with GovAI on the UK’s role in the AI landscape. Fantastic insights from GovAI Summer Fellows Tiffany Perry & Vidya Ramesh on themes inc. the future of UK partnerships in AI capabilities & strengthening UK leadership on AI safety & security.
December 4, 2025 at 4:32 PM
In BFPG's latest analysis, Associate Fellow James Jennion examines how the UK’s inconsistent responses to China reveal a lack of strategic clarity in managing the relationship. bfpg.co.uk/2025/12/how-...
How the Government can beat the bad headlines about China - British Foreign Policy Group
BFPG Associate Fellow James Jennion examines how the UK’s inconsistent responses to China reveal a lack of strategic clarity in managing the relationship.
bfpg.co.uk
December 4, 2025 at 2:01 PM
NEW: BFPG's latest analysis examines how the first G20 Summit on African soil tests whether major powers can match rhetoric with real partnership. bfpg.co.uk/2025/11/the-...
The 2025 G20 Summit: Prioritising Africa’s Developmental Agenda - British Foreign Policy Group
BFPG Associate Fellow Mohamed Cassimjee examines how the first G20 Summit in Africa tests whether major powers can match rhetoric with real partnership.
bfpg.co.uk
November 21, 2025 at 1:37 PM
BFPG Director Evie Aspinall joined the New Statesman Politics Live 2025 conference yesterday. Speaking with fellow panelists Sarah Champion MP, Uma Kumaran MP, and Calum Miller MP, the session explored how international cooperation makes the UK safer and more prosperous.
November 20, 2025 at 1:46 PM
Today BFPG was joined by Dame Chi Onwurah MP for a valuable conversation on the role of science in shaping the UK's global influence. Thank you to our audience and the Wellcome Trust for their support. Our recent report on science and soft power can be found here: bfpg.co.uk/2025/10/scie...
November 13, 2025 at 4:34 PM
Tomorrow, 28th October at 12:00, tune in to the Mile End Institute's webinar to hear BFPG Director, Evie Aspinall, and fellow panellists discussing Britain's role in Ukraine, and the implications for UK foreign and domestic policy.

Sign up here: us02web.zoom.us/webinar/regi...
October 27, 2025 at 1:31 PM
Research Professional News has spotlighted BFPG’s report on Science and Soft Power, highlighting its calls for the restoration of long-term international funding, stronger coordination + narratives to better harness UK science for global influence. www.researchprofessionalnews.com/rr-news-uk-p...
UK ‘underutilises science in soft power arsenal’, says think tank - Research Professional News
British Foreign Policy Group urges restoration of long-term international funding to harness research strength
www.researchprofessionalnews.com
October 24, 2025 at 3:47 PM
NEW: BFPG’s new report argues that science is an underutilised tool in the UK’s soft power arsenal - vital to UK growth, global influence, trust and prosperity - and should sit at the heart of the UK’s international strategy. Read the full report here: bfpg.co.uk/2025/10/scie...
Science and Soft Power: Building a New Narrative for the UK’s Role in the World - British Foreign Policy Group
This report explores how the UK’s world-leading scientific expertise can strengthen the UK’s global influence in an era of growing geopolitical competition.
bfpg.co.uk
October 23, 2025 at 8:00 AM
NEW: Our latest piece explores shifting public attitudes, as more Britons desire pragmatism in foreign policy, backing trade and aid that deliver economic and security returns over values. bfpg.co.uk/2025/10/brit...
Britain’s Hard-Nosed Turn in Foreign Policy: Calculated or Cautious? - British Foreign Policy Group
Eliza Keogh explores shifting public attitudes, as Britons value pragmatism in foreign policy, backing trade and aid that deliver economic and security returns over values.
bfpg.co.uk
October 3, 2025 at 9:41 AM
Take a look at what BFPG got up to in September. bfpg.co.uk/2025/10/bfpg...
BFPG’s September 2025 Review - British Foreign Policy Group
A review of BFPG's activities and responses to the major global events of September 2025.
bfpg.co.uk
October 2, 2025 at 2:45 PM
Ahead of US President Trump's state visit, BFPG Director Evie Aspinall spoke to NPR about the President's long-standing affinity for the British royal family and the potential for the UK to leverage this relationship to its advantage. www.npr.org/2025/09/15/n...
Trump, fascinated by the royals, gets a rare second U.K. state visit
Trump has long expressed fascination with the royal family. The U.K. government will tap into that this week during a state visit that combines pageantry and politics.
www.npr.org
September 15, 2025 at 2:21 PM
BFPG Director Evie Aspinall spoke to Metro about the likely fallout and repercussions from Russian drones being shot down in Polish airspace.
metro.co.uk/2025/09/10/m...
What does it mean for the UK and Nato after Poland 'shoots down Russian drones'?
Poland's president has invoked Nato's Article 4 in response.
metro.co.uk
September 10, 2025 at 2:26 PM
NEW: Senior Advisor David Landsman argues that the UK’s recent defence reviews set out sweeping ambitions, but without a clear national interest, sufficient resources or public support, they remain ungrounded. This analysis calls for a realist reset for UK defence. bfpg.co.uk/2025/09/givi...
bfpg.co.uk
September 9, 2025 at 8:43 AM
In a piece for Progressive Britain, BFPG Director Evie Aspinall considers how, in a time of cost-of-living crises and tight fiscal rules, the government can build public support for high defence spending. www.progressivebritain.org/the-defence-...
The Defence Spending Dilemma: Building Public Support in an Age of Domestic Challenge - Progressive Britain
Director of the British Foreign Policy Group Evie Aspinall details how the challenge facing the Government of justifying high defence spending in a time of tight fiscal rules.
www.progressivebritain.org
September 8, 2025 at 9:05 AM
BFPG is delighted to be recruiting for a Senior Researcher. This is a rare opportunity to join a leading foreign policy think tank at a critical geopolitical moment.
🗓️ Deadline: 11:59pm, 4th Sept
bfpg.co.uk/2025/08/job-...
Job Opportunity: Senior Researcher - British Foreign Policy Group
Come and work at BFPG. We are looking for a a dynamic Senior Researcher to play a key role in delivering our programme of research, events, and engagement.
bfpg.co.uk
August 28, 2025 at 11:00 AM
Take a look at what BFPG has been up to this Summer bfpg.co.uk/2025/08/summ...
BFPG's Summer 2025 Review - British Foreign Policy Group
A review of BFPG's activities over July and August of 2025.
bfpg.co.uk
August 27, 2025 at 4:02 PM
We’re hiring! BFPG is recruiting for a Senior Researcher to join our team. If you’re passionate about UK foreign policy, we'd love to hear from you.

Apply by 11:59pm on Thursday 4 September 2025.

Full details: bfpg.co.uk/2025/08/job-...
Job Opportunity: Senior Researcher - British Foreign Policy Group
Come and work at BFPG. We are looking for a a dynamic Senior Researcher to play a key role in delivering our programme of research, events, and engagement.
bfpg.co.uk
August 19, 2025 at 11:16 AM
Great to see BFPG's 2025 Annual Survey polling data highlighted in The Times. The piece references the sharp decline in Britons' trust in the US over the past year, as Britons increasingly turn towards Europe.

Read the full article: www.thetimes.com/comment/colu...
China is busy making friends — and it’s partly thanks to Trump
While the US has cut aid and withdrawn from multilateral organisations, Beijing is capitalising on its Belt and Road Initiative and winning over global opinion
www.thetimes.com
July 28, 2025 at 3:31 PM
NEW: As President Trump and Kier Starmer prepare to meet later today, Evie Aspinall reflects on a UK-US relationship that remains vital but is increasingly defined by pragmatism rather than sentiment. bfpg.co.uk/2025/07/a-pr...
A Pragmatic But Uncomfortable Special Relationship - British Foreign Policy Group
Ahead of President Trump's first visit to the UK of his second term, BFPG Director Evie Aspinall examines the stark evolution of UK‑US relations, as seen by the public.
bfpg.co.uk
July 28, 2025 at 8:28 AM