Foreign Secretary Yvette Cooper used the 21st IISS Manama Dialogue in Bahrain on 1 November to set out the UK’s immediate foreign policy priorities: securing implementation of a ceasefire framework in Gaza through the UN, intensifying diplomacy on Sudan, and sustaining pressure on Russia via sanctions. She linked attacks on Red Sea shipping, Russia’s war in Ukraine and state collapse in Sudan to wider risks for global trade and security.
On Gaza, Cooper said a month‑long ceasefire has taken fragile hold, welcomed continuing hostage releases and increased aid flows, and credited US leadership under President Trump alongside Qatar, Egypt and Turkey. She argued that delivery now depends on a sequence of UN resolutions, a temporary international stabilisation force working with vetted Palestinian police, and governance reforms within a reformed Palestinian Authority.
Her remarks sit within a broader diplomatic track. In September, the UN General Assembly endorsed the New York Declaration-condemning Hamas, calling for a ceasefire and charting steps toward a two‑state outcome with temporary UN‑mandated security measures. The UK formally recognised the State of Palestine on 21 September alongside Canada and Australia, positioning recognition within that pathway.
Cooper stressed that humanitarian aid to Gaza “cannot be conditional” and warned against the territory becoming stuck between war and peace. She said the UK stands ready to contribute technical expertise in civil‑military coordination and weapons decommissioning, and to support long‑term reconstruction planning and mobilisation of private finance if political and security arrangements take hold.
Turning to Sudan, Cooper announced an additional £5 million in UK support for civilians affected by the violence around El Fasher, on top of this year’s £120 million UK allocation. She cited reports of atrocities and urged a concerted diplomatic effort for a ceasefire, working through the Quad, the UN and other forums. The April London conference commitments and subsequent Quad statements provide the immediate platform for that push.
On Ukraine, the Foreign Secretary reiterated that the UK will continue to pursue economic sanctions until President Putin ends the assault and is prepared to negotiate for peace. She framed these measures as part of a wider defence of the UN Charter, with consequences for European security and allied credibility.
Throughout the speech, Cooper argued that coalitions assembled to deliver the Gaza ceasefire should inform how multilateral security governance is modernised. She cited the need for agile partnerships to reinforce UN processes when regional conflicts intensify and spill over into global markets and supply chains.
For policy teams and delivery partners, the signals are operational. If the Gaza framework advances, ministers expect a run of Security Council activity on monitoring, stabilisation and finance; UK contributions are likely to centre on technical support rather than troop deployments, in line with the capabilities she highlighted. In Sudan, the extra £5 million provides short‑term relief, but the government’s message is that humanitarian outcomes ultimately hinge on a ceasefire secured through coordinated international diplomacy.