"Freedom and openness have always been the strongest forces of progress," says a keynote speech, excerpted by Downing Street, that Rishi Sunak will deliver on Monday at Lord Mayor's annual banquet in London. But they "are never achieved by standing still “ been.
A stronger economy must be created "because it is the basis of our strength abroad," it said.
At the beginning of November, Sunak visited Kyiv to offer Ukraine further military aid in defense against Russia.
He also assured Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy of his country's "permanent support".
Plan for the long term like the competition
As the Guardian reports, in his speech Sunak now announces an "evolutionary approach" to British foreign policy.
He therefore argues that countries like Russia and China are planning for the long term and the UK should follow suit.
“Our opponents and competitors plan for the long term.
In the face of these challenges, short-termism or wishful thinking will not suffice..." the script reads, according to the Guardian.
“That means we need to do more to defend our values and the openness on which our prosperity depends.
It means building a stronger economy at home - because it is the foundation of our strength abroad.
And it means standing up to our competitors, not with great rhetoric but with robust pragmatism.”
Sunak also wants to talk about deepening partnerships in other parts of the world, such as the Indo-Pacific region, according to the Guardian, and prepare for intensified inter-state competition from countries such as Russia, China and Iran.
“Freedom and openness have always been the strongest forces of progress.
But they were never achieved by standing still," the Guardian quoted the speech as saying.
"Under my leadership, we will not settle for the status quo.
We will do things differently.”
Great Britain is currently struggling with significant economic problems and high inflation.
In mid-November, when the government in London presented its budget plans, the main factors for this were the effects of the corona pandemic and the "energy crisis triggered by Russia".