If anyone is wondering whether and why it actually matters that the UK is committed to the rule of international law and the binding force of that law, here are just a few recent examples.

International law is the basis on which the UK, and Boris Johnson himself as foreign secretary, condemned the use of chemical weapons in Syria.

https://www.gov.uk/government/speeches/chemical-weapons-in-syria
https://bit.ly/2R8RS17 

International law is the basis on which the foreign secretary - again and again - condemned the National Security Law that China imposed on Hong Kong.

https://bit.ly/32ChudF 

International law is the basis on which the UK, France, Germany and the US condemned Russia’s poisoning of Sergei and Yulia Skripal in Salisbury.

https://www.gov.uk/government/news/salisbury-attack-joint-statement-from-the-leaders-of-france-germany-the-united-states-and-the-united-kingdom

International law is the basis on which the UK government condemned Iran’s attacks on the AramCo nuclear facility, attempts to gain access to nuclear weapons, interference in Yemen and ongoing human rights violations.

International law is the basis on which the UK condemned Russia’s annexation of Crimea.

https://www.gov.uk/government/speeches/russia-cannot-be-granted-impunity-to-disregard-international-law-and-the-un-charter https://www.gov.uk/government/news/uk-supports-us-declaration-condemning-the-illegal-annexation-of-crimea

International law is the basis on which the UK condemned Russian attacks on civilians in Idlib.

https://www.gov.uk/government/speeches/cease-the-fighting-in-syria-and-let-the-aid-workers-in-to-act

International law is the basis on which the UK condemned Iran for detaining its ambassador in Tehran without grounds or explanation.

https://www.gov.uk/government/news/arrest-of-ambassador-to-iran-foreign-secretary-statement

International law was the basis on which the foreign secretary condemned hostile actors’ use of the pandemic as an opportunity for cyber-attacks.
https://www.gov.uk/government/news/uk-condemns-cyber-actors-seeking-to-benefit-from-global-coronavirus-pandemic

The rules-based international order is, as someone once said, an overwhelming benefit for the world as a whole.

/ends