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Reading @RobinNiblett's wide-ranging @ChathamHouse think-piece on Global Britain ( https://bit.ly/3szSi27 ). Quite right to start with global context & then focus on UK comp. adv. as a 'full service' mid-range power, with diplomatic, military, dev't and soft power resources (1/7)
Important that @RobinNiblett reminds us not to be naive abt the state of a 'splintered world', incl 'multilateralism at bay', and (controversially) partners & rivals on a range of issues ( https://bit.ly/3szSi27 ) (2/7)
Useful for @RobinNiblett to identify six priority areas for UK overseas engagement (as straw people for discussion?) ( https://bit.ly/3szSi27 ) (3/7):
And (again controversial), @RobinNiblett kind of endorses an Asia Pacific tilt, though with a nod to SSA, and India left out in the cold (4/7)
Probably @robinniblett analysis ( https://bit.ly/3szSi27 ) will chime with long-awaited Integrated Review (due shortly). But what it emphasises to me is the need for a full development White Paper. (5/7)
I think a development White Paper wd have (a) different diagnosis of the state of the world (incl more on SDG shortfalls), (b) more on UK comp adv (e.g. humanitarian, NGOs, research), (c) different priorities, and (d) different geographies. (6/7)
