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...

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...

Major generational divides have emerged along a range of foreign policy themes.
🔹e.g. 46% of over-66s say Ukraine should be a top priority, vs 17% of 18-25s
🔹e.g. 61% of 18-25-year-olds support Chinese technology companies operating in the UK, vs just 12% of over-66s. (5/6)

Public support for defence spending is superficial.
✅ 71% support increase to 3% GDP now or in the next few years.
❌ However, Britons would oppose increasing defence spend if it required reducing spend on the NHS (60%), education (47%), or welfare (46%) (4/6)

Instead Brits are turning to Europe:
🔹62% want to move closer to the EU
🔹Support for cooperation is deep: 83% support agreements to strengthen defence cooperation, 79% support reduced trade barriers on food & drink + 78% support ePassport gate access for Brits in Europe (3/6)

🔻Trust in the US plummets, from 53% last year to 38% in 2025. More Britons also now distrust the US (41%) than trust it (38%). Strikingly, a potential Trump presidency (33%) is more widely seen as a top threat to UK security than terrorism (32%) or China (25%). (2/6)

Today BFPG was privileged to host Ambassador Yao, Representative of the Taipei Representative Office, for a roundtable reflecting on today’s current geopolitical environment & the future of UK-Taiwan relations. We thank all who attended & the Ambassador for his time.

As co-convenors of the UK Soft Power Group, we are delighted to be launching the Group’s latest report, ‘Strengthening UK Soft Power: Strategic Recommendations’. It explores how to strengthen UK soft power in today's turbulent global environment. Give it a read: bfpg.co.uk/2025/05/stre...

BFPG was pleased to host HE Mr Do Minh Hung, Ambassador of Vietnam, for a roundtable as part of our Diplomatic Hour series. The session focused on the future of Vietnam’s foreign policy & approaches to navigating today's geopolitical tensions. We thank His Excellency for his time.

BFPG was delighted to host HE Kyriacos Kouros, High Commissioner for Cyprus, for an insightful roundtable this morning on the direction & priorities of Cyprus' foreign policy, and how it is navigating the geopolitical tensions of today. We thank the High Commissioner for his time.

BFPG was delighted to host HE Mr Hakim Hajoui, Ambassador of Morocco, last week for an insightful roundtable on the direction and priorities of Morocco's foreign policy, and how the UK can best support these goals. We thank the Ambassador for his time, and all who joined us.

BFPG's Senior Advisor David Landsman spoke at the 2025 Global Soft Power Summit last week on the role of multilateral orgs in today’s world. BFPG convenes the UK Soft Power Group and always welcomes discussion on the crucial role of soft power. You can find out more here: uksoftpowergroup.com

BFPG was delighted to host HE Mr Antonio Patriota, Ambassador of Brazil, for an insightful roundtable on how Brazil is positioning its role in the world, as well as the future of UK-Brazilian relations. We thank the Ambassador for his time, and all who joined us.

Thank you to all who joined us earlier for a fascinating and very open discussion on the implications of Donald Trump's re-election, for both the UK-US relationship and wider global dynamics. Particular thanks to our great speakers, Dame Emily Thornberry MP, Leslie Vinjamuri and Michael Martins.