International
policies
The following is a survey of the main international policy pledges of the parties contesting the 2019 UK General Election (excluding
Brexit and Climate Change). This survey will be updated as further party manifestos are published. Additional commentary is under preparation.
International
policies
Excluding
Brexit and Climate Change.
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Trident
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NATO
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Parliamentary
Vote on War
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Arms
Sales
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Recognise
Palestine
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Nuclear Ban Treaty
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Mentions “peace”
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Conservative
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Green
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Labour
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Lib
Dem
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Plaid
Cymru
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SNP
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KEY
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Negative
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No mention
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Positive
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Mixed
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Conservative
Party
Get
Brexit Done, Unleash Britain’s Potential
“[W]e will bolster the alliances and institutions that help
protect our influence and keep up safe: the UN and the UN Security Council; NATO …”
We
Will Strengthen Britain In The World, Page 51
“As
we extend our diplomatic network, we will reinvigorate relationships with
Europe and seek to strengthen old and new partnerships across the world. We
will work with our cultural institutions like the BBC and British Council to expand our values. And unlike Jeremy Corbyn, we will stand up to foreign countries that
threaten the stability of Europe, or commit state-sanctioned murder on British
soil.”
We
Will Strengthen Britain In The World, Page 51
“We will continue to exceed the NATO target of spending 2 per
cent of GDP on defence and increase the budget by at least 0.5 per cent above
inflation every year of the new Parliament.”
Put
our national security first, We Will Strengthen Britain In The World, Page 53
“We will maintain our Trident nuclear deterrent, which
guarantees our security.”
Put
our national security first, We Will Strengthen Britain In The World, Page 53
“We will support the UK’s world-class defence industry by
investing in ambitious global programmes, including building the new
Type 31 frigates in British shipyards such as Rosyth and a new generation of
armoured vehicles, made in Britain.”
Put
our national security first, We Will Strengthen Britain In The World, Page 53
Green
Party
If
Not Now, When?
“Replace
the Ministry of Defence with a Ministry for Security and Peace, making the
promotion of peace a key foreign policy objective and linking the role of the
defence services more closely to the world we now live in”.
Growing
Democracy, Shaking up central government, Page 39
“Introduce
a new law on Universal Jurisdiction, to make it easier to prosecute those
committing genocide, crimes against humanity and war crimes, wherever these
crimes take place.”
Growing
Democracy, Global justice and international aid, Page 46
“Seek
resolution in line with international law and the principles of
self-determination to long running conflicts, illegal occupations and human
rights violations.”
Growing
Democracy, Global justice and international aid, Page 46
“Cancelling
the Trident nuclear weapons system and nuclear powered submarines. We will join
the United Nation’s Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons and work
within the multilateral framework … for the total elimination of all nuclear
weapons, including the implementation, enforcement and verification of all
disarmament, arms control and non-proliferation agreements. We need a security
system that can keep us safe from 21st-century challenges, not one
that could realise cold war nightmares.”
The
New Deal for Tax and Spend, Ending Wasteful Spending, Page 79
Labour
It’s
Time for Real Change
“Labour
will protect our security at home and abroad. After years of failed foreign
interventions and wars, we will end the ‘bomb first, talk later’ approach and
instead have a foreign policy based on peace, justice and human rights.”
Foreword,
Page 8
“Introduce
a War Powers Act to ensure that no prime minister can bypass Parliament to
commit to conventional military action … we will implement every single
recommendation of the Chilcot Inquiry.”
A
New Internationalism, Page 95
“Conduct
an audit of the impact of Britain’s colonial legacy”.
A
New Internationalism, Page 96
“Invest
an additional £400 million in our diplomatic capacity to secure Britain’s role
as a country that promotes peace”.
A
New Internationalism, Page 96
“Establish
a judge-led inquiry into out country’s alleged complicity in rendition and
torture, and the operation of secret courts.”
Effective
Diplomacy, Page 97
“Human
rights and international humanitarian law are fundamental pillars of a secure
global system.”
Effective
Diplomacy, Human Rights, Page 98
“We
will immediately suspend the sale of arms to Saudi Arabia … and the Israel for
arms used in violation of the human rights of Palestinian civilians”.
Effective
Diplomacy, Human Rights, Page 98
“Reform
the international rules-based order to secure justice and accountability for
breaches of human rights and international law”.
Effective
Diplomacy, Human Rights, Page 98
“Appoint
human-rights advisers to work across the Foreign Office and government to
prioritise a co-ordinated approach to human rights.”
Effective
Diplomacy, Human Rights, Page 98
“Labour
is committed to a comprehensive peace in the Middle East based on a two-state
solution … There can be no military solution to this conflict, which must be
settled on the basis of justice and international law.”
Effective
Diplomacy, Prioritising Conflict Prevention and Peace Building, Page 99
“We
will:
·
Build support for UN reform … improving the engagement of the
General Assembly in decision-making …
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Prioritise out responsibility to prevent conflict …
·
Act immediately to urge negotiations towards a political
resolution to conflict wherever it arises …”
Effective
Diplomacy, Prioritising Conflict Prevention and Peace Building, Page 99
“Labour
will increase funding for UN peacekeeping operations … We will maintain our commitment to NATO … we will
use our influence at the United Nations to support peace and security
worldwide.”
Defence
and Security, Page 101
“Labour supports the renewal of the Trident nuclear deterrent.
Labour will also actively lead multilateral efforts under our obligations
to the Non-Proliferation Treaty to create a nuclear-free world.”
Defence
and Security, Page 101
“Labour’s commitment to spend 2% …”
Defence
and Security, Page 101
“We
will pay a lump sum of £50,000 to each surviving nuclear-test veteran”.
Defence
and Security, Page 101
Liberal
Democrats
Stop
Brexit, Build a Brighter Future
“Defending
international cooperation against the rising tides of nationalism and
isolationism, supporting multilateral organisations like the UN and NATO which are
increasingly under threat.”
Our
Plan for a Better World, Page 89
“Controlling
arms exports to countries with poor human rights records and, as part of this,
suspending arms sales to Saudi Arabia.”
Our
Plan for a Better World, Page 89
“Use
all aspects of government policy … to strengthen UK efforts to prevent violent
conflict.”
Our
Plan for a Better World, A Peaceful World, Page 89
“Improve
control of arms exports, including by introducing a policy of ‘presumption of
denial’ for arms exports to countries listed as Human Rights Priority
Countries”.
Our
Plan for a Better World, A Peaceful World, Page 89
“Legislate
to ensure there is a parliamentary vote before engaging in military action, while preserving the ability to engage in action in
emergencies or under treaty obligation without requiring parliamentary approval.”
Our
Plan for a Better World, A Peaceful World, Page 90
“Work
with the EU to revive the Iran nuclear deal.”
Our
Plan for a Better World, A Peaceful World, Page 90
“Officially
recognise the independent state of Palestine”.
Our
Plan for a Better World, A Peaceful World, Page 90
“Suspend
UK arms sales to Saudi Arabia”.
Our
Plan for a Better World, A Peaceful World, Page 90
“Commit to the principle of collective self-defence as laid
our in the North Atlantic Treaty and spending two per cent of GDP on defence in
line with NATO recommendations”.
Our
Plan for a Better World, A Secure Defence in the 21st Century, Page
91
“Promote
an international treaty on the principles and limits of the use of technology
in modern warfare.”
Our
Plan for a Better World, A Secure Defence in the 21st Century, Page
91
“Maintain a minimum nuclear deterrent, while pursuing
multilateral nuclear disarmament; continuing with the Dreadnought programme,
the submarine-based replacement for Vanguard, but procuring three boats and
moving to a medium-readiness responsive posture and maintaining the deterrent
through measures such as unpredictable and irregular patrolling patterns.”
Our
Plan for a Better World, A Secure Defence in the 21st Century, Page
91
“Require
UK-registered NGOs and organisations including the Armed Forces and defence contractors
to report all instances of document abuse overseas to government”.
Our
Plan for a Better World, Promoting Human Rights and Equality Around the World,
Page 93
Plaid
Cymru
Wales,
it’s us.
“Both
the Tories and Labour want to spend billions on the renewal of an ineffective
and unnecessary nuclear weapons system. Plaid Cymru are determined to prevent
the renewal of a weapon of mass destruction and to scrap Trident. We will
resist all attempts to relocate nuclear weapons in Wales or in Welsh Waters.”
Peace
and Security, Page 84
“Plaid
Cymru believes that, with the exception of binding international treaties, the
decision to go to war should require the support of all four nations and we
demand that a vote is held in the Senedd prior to any UK-supported military
intervention in foreign affairs. The people of Wales have a democratic right to
support or oppose such incursions.”
Peace
and Security, Page 84
Scottish
National Party
Stronger
for Scotland
“…we
could choose to spend money on Scotland’s priorities instead of wasting
billions of pounds on Trident.”
My
Vision [Nicola Sturgeon], Page 2
“SNP
MPs will build a cross-party coalition to scrap Trident as quickly and as
safely as possible. We believe the billions spent on Trident should be invested
in our public services.”
Our
Key Pledges, Scrap Trident, Page 5
“We
place great importance on being a good global citizen, and we expect the UK
government to participate fully in international institutions respecting their
role and working with them for international peace.”
A
Safer World, Foreign Affairs, Page 48
“The
SNP will continue to work with international partners to progress a lasting
peace settlement in the Middle East, pursuing a two-state solution for Israel
and Palestine. We will press the UK government to remain committed – with EU
partners – to the Iran nuclear deal.”
A
Safer World, Foreign Affairs, Page 48
“The
UK has illegally maintained a military base in the Chagos Islands … The SNP
will continue to call on the UK to immediately withdraw from the Chagos
Islands.”
A
Safer World, Foreign Affairs, Page 48
“SNP
MPs will continue to call on the UK government to ensure that it does all that
it can to de-escalate tensions between India and Pakistan over the status of
Kashmir. We support the right of Kashmiri people to self-determination.”
A
Safer World, Foreign Affairs, Page 48-49
“We
will call on the UK government to commit to introducing mechanisms to prevent
identity based violence and mass atrocities.”
A
Safer World, Foreign Affairs, Page 49
“SNP
MPs will continue calls for recognition and protection for Kurdish minorities
in Turkey, Iraq, and Syria.”
A
Safer World, Foreign Affairs, Page 49
“With
new security priorities in the wake of Brexit, and emerging threats in hybrid
warfare, SNP MPs will continue to call on the UK government to carry out a new Strategic
Defence and Security Review (SDSR). A review should assess the need for
permanent basing of ocean-going conventional vessels in Scotland.”
A
Safer Scotland, Foreign Affairs, Page 49
“The
Tory government has presided over cuts to the defence estate in Scotland, while
committing billions to a new generation of Trident nuclear weapons.”
Defence,
Foreign Affairs, Page 49
“The
SNP has never and will never support the retention or renewal of Trident. We
believe that nuclear weapons are immoral, ineffective and expensive.
We
want to see a world free from nuclear weapons, and with independence, Scotland
can be an advocate for disarmament on the global stage.
In
times of imposed austerity, the estimated £205 billion to be spent on a Trident
replacement over the next 30 years could be far more effectively used to
support our public services and build a better future for our children.
At
Westminster SNP MPs will build a cross-party coalition to scrap Trident as
quickly and as safely as possible.
We
will press the UK government to meet their international obligations on nuclear
disarmament.”
Scrapping
Trident, Foreign Affairs, Page 49
“We
will continue to urge the UK government to immediately halt all military
support and arms sales to regimes guilty of violations of human rights and
international humanitarian law. SNP MPs will never accept the use of lethal
autonomous weapons – this is immoral and must be banned under international law.”
Munitions,
Foreign Affairs, Page 50
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