The UK Foreign Secretary used the 21st IISS Manama Dialogue in Bahrain on 1 November 2025 to argue that regional conflicts are shaping global security and trade. The speech, published by the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO), linked attacks on shipping in the Red Sea, Russia’s war in Ukraine and the crisis in Sudan to the need for modern, more agile multilateral cooperation. According to the transcript, the UK sees renewed international coordination as essential, even as existing frameworks are questioned.
On Gaza, the Foreign Secretary said a ceasefire has held for nearly a month following two years of severe civilian suffering. The remarks credited US leadership under President Trump, alongside Qatari, Egyptian and Turkish facilitation, and support from Jordan, Saudi Arabia, the Arab League and European partners. The speech also referenced the “New York Declaration” rejecting Hamas and described a “historic decision” by the UK, France, Australia, Canada, Portugal and others to recognise the State of Palestine at the UN General Assembly, framing these steps as part of a wider diplomatic track.
The next phase set out by the UK focuses on practical governance and security arrangements in Gaza. The Foreign Secretary called for increased humanitarian flows, stating that aid “cannot be conditional” while children face famine and families lack medical care. The UK view presented in Bahrain is for Gaza to be administered free from Hamas, with a reformed Palestinian Authority supported by a stabilisation force and Palestinian policing. London signalled contributions in civil–military coordination, weapons decommissioning and long‑term reconstruction planning, including efforts to mobilise private finance.
The government signalled that multiple UN resolutions will likely be required to underpin these arrangements and reiterated support for a two‑state outcome with Israel and Palestine living side by side. For policy teams in London and partner capitals, this implies sustained diplomatic time at the UN, sustained donor coordination on basic services, and early planning for security assistance and public‑finance management should governance reforms advance.
The tone on Gaza was cautious. While hostages have returned and aid has increased, the Foreign Secretary warned that progress remains fragile and that Gaza must not be left in a grey zone between war and peace. Officials and agencies were urged to maintain momentum so that immediate relief, governance design and security planning move in step rather than stall once the ceasefire phase stabilises.
Turning to Sudan, the Foreign Secretary described “despair”, citing reports from Darfur of atrocities, starvation and the use of rape as a weapon of war. The speech argued that international action has been insufficient, noting a UN Security Council effort on humanitarian access that was vetoed by Russia over a year ago and a London meeting six months ago that failed to establish a unified approach to end the conflict.
The UK announced an additional £5 million in humanitarian funding in response to violence in El Fasher, on top of £120 million already allocated across Sudan this year. Ministers stressed that aid alone cannot resolve the crisis while fighting continues, and called for a new international drive for a ceasefire supported by the UN, the Quad and other groupings. For humanitarian agencies, the immediate effect is marginally higher UK funding, but operational access and protection remain the critical constraints.
On Ukraine, the Foreign Secretary reaffirmed that economic sanctions will continue until Russia abandons its war and is prepared to negotiate. The message from Bahrain was that European security is directly affected by the conflict and that sanctions policy will be sustained within a wider coalition, alongside support for Kyiv, to keep pressure on Moscow.
The speech also linked Red Sea maritime threats to broader economic risks, arguing that disruptions to shipping routes carry global costs. This places continued emphasis on coordinated maritime security efforts and on diplomatic channels that can reduce spillover from regional conflicts into international trade, an area where the UK has worked with partners throughout the past year.
In closing, the government presented the Manama Dialogue as proof that coalitions-formal and ad hoc-remain necessary to manage today’s crises. The UK called for modernised multilateral tools capable of delivering ceasefires, stabilisation and reconstruction. For policy professionals, the takeaways are clear: expect intensive UN diplomacy on Gaza, incremental but targeted UK relief for Sudan pending a ceasefire, and continued sanctions coordination on Russia while maritime security remains a standing priority. All positions are drawn from the official transcript released on 1 November 2025.