The United Kingdom occupies a unique position in global affairs. It is the only country that belongs to the Group of Eight (G8), the Commonwealth, the European Union (EU), the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation (NATO) and United Nations (UN) where it is a permanent member of the Security Council.
The UK is also a member of the Organisation for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE) and the Council of Europe.
European Union
The EU is a grouping of European Governments that have agreed to make a joint response to today’s challenges. It added ten new Member States on 1 May 2004
The EU is the result of a process of co-operation and integration that began in 1951 between six countries.
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United Nations
The UK is a founder member of the UN and one of the five permanent members of the Security Council, along with China, France, Russia and the United States.
In 2000 the UK was the sixth largest contributor to the UN regular budget, the fifth largest contributor to peace keeping operations, and one of the largest voluntary contributors to UN funds, programmes and agencies.
Find out more on these websites:
- Foreign and Commonwealth Office - UN pages (external link)
- United Nations website (external link)
- United Nations Information Centre (external link)
- United Kingdom Mission to the United Nations (external link)
NATO
NATO remains the bedrock of the UK’s national defence. This was highlighted by the invocation, for the first time in NATO’s history, of the mutual defence guarantee in Article 5 of the North Atlantic Treaty in response to the 11 September terrorist attacks in the US.
The organisation’s main functions are to:
- help provide security and stability in the Euro-Atlantic area;
- provide a transatlantic forum for member states to consult on issues of common concern;
- deter and defend against any threats the territory of any NATO member state;
- contribute to crisis management and conflict prevention on a case by case basis; and
- promote partnership, co-operation and dialogue with other countries in the Euro-Atlantic area.
Find out more on these websites:
- Foreign and Commonwealth Office - NATO pages (external link)
- UK Delegation to NATO (external link)
- NATO website (external link)
The Commonwealth
With their common heritage in language, culture, law and education (left behind as a legacy of the British Empire), Commonwealth countries work together in an atmosphere of understanding and trust.
The 1971 Singapore Declaration of Commonwealth Principles describes the Commonwealth as a ‘voluntary association of independent sovereign states, consulting and co-operating in the common interests of their peoples and in the promotion of international understanding and world peace.’
The modern Commonwealth comprises nearly one-third of the world’s countries. Its combined population of 1.7 billion people accounts for a quarter of the world’s inhabitants. The 54 countries represent some of the richest and some of the poorest in the world, as well as some of the biggest and the smallest. 34 of the 54 are classed as small states (mostly island states and with a population of 1.5 million or less).
The UK supports the work of the Commonwealth in promoting democracy, the rule of law, good governance and human rights, as well as the Commonwealth’s economic and developmental work.
Find out more on these websites:
- Foreign and Commonwealth Office - Commonwealth pages (external link)
- The Commonwealth website (external link)
Group of Eight
The UK is a member of the G8 leading industrial countries. The other members are Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, Russia and the USA. It is an informal group with the presidency rotating between members each year.
Russia became a full member in 1998 to make the G8.The other countries operate as the G7 for some discussions.
The G7 was formed in 1975 mainly to discuss economic issues. Its remit has expanded to include a wide range of foreign policy issues such as terrorism, nuclear safety, the environment and development assistance.
Council of Europe
The Council of Europe was the first international organisation to be founded in Europe. It was partly inspired by a speech made by Winston Churchill in September 1946, which called for greater co-operation amongst European countries.
Established in 1949, its aims to strengthen democracy, human rights and the rule of law throughout the continent of Europe. It also seeks solutions to common problems in European society, such as racism, minority rights and drug abuse, and makes policy recommendations to its member states.
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Organisation for Security and Co-operation in Europe
The OSCE is the largest existing regional security organisation. The55 participating states include all of Europe, Russia, the Caucasus, Central Asia, the USA and Canada. The OSCE has been established as a primary instrument for early warning, conflict prevention, crisis management and post-conflict rehabilitation under Chapter VIII of the Charter of the United Nations.
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Other international bodies
The UK belongs to many other international bodies including the International Monetary Fund (IMF), which regulates the international financial system and provides credits for countries facing balance of payments difficulties; the World Bank, which provides loans to finance economic and social programmes in developing countries; and the World Trade Organisation, the only international organisation dealing with the rules of trade between nations.
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