Singapore, September 29 (EFE). – The United Kingdom’s Foreign Secretary, James Cleverly, confirmed this Thursday that his country has “enhanced the Indo-Pacific transformation” of its diplomacy, and is ready to have “the largest and largest presence” in that region by 2030, during a speech at a forum in Singapore.
As part of this strategy, which evokes the “turn to the Pacific” that characterized the foreign policy of former US President Barack Obama, Cleverly stressed that the UK intended to be the first European country to join the comprehensive and progressive treaty. Association Transpacific (CPTPP, for its English acronym).
“We intend to be the first European country to join the CPTPP, which will give the region access to first-class services to the UK’s financial sector, the sixth largest economy in the world,” Cleverly confirmed during his speech at a conference organized by the Milken Institute on Thursday in Singapore.
The CPTPP, signed in 2018, includes Australia, Brunei, Canada, Chile, Japan, Malaysia, Mexico, New Zealand, Peru, Singapore and Vietnam. In principle, it had the United States, but this country abandoned the project in 2017 by a decision of former President Donald Trump, which is also known as TPP-11.
The United Kingdom began the process of joining the treaty last year, becoming one of its main trading strategies after leaving the European Union, although Cleverly, who was on the last day of his Asian tour that previously took him to Japan and South Korea, stressed it was not the only deal on the list.
“We have signed free trade agreements with Australia and New Zealand, and we intend to sign another one with India before the end of the year,” he said.
He also cleverly highlighted how the UK is increasing its involvement in the Indo-Pacific, a term that includes India to counter China, through AUKUS, the security agreement signed in September 2021 between the UK, Australia and the US to help the southern country develop nuclear submarines.
“60% of global trade goes through the Indo-Pacific shipping lanes, so security here has a direct impact on households in the UK,” he added.
As for China, the new head of British diplomacy admitted that it was a “key global player” who “lifted millions out of poverty”, though he condemned it “when China abandons global norms, when it aligns with countries like Russia, the situation is affected in the scientist “.
“China will always have the opportunity to decide which direction it wants to take,” he added, adding that “the one thing that is certain is that the UK will always defend our sovereignty, our economic security and our partners. No British government will turn its back on repression wherever it occurs.” EFE
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