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David Lammy has declared that the hard-won “post Cold War peace is well and truly over” as he used his first major speech of 2025 to take aim at Vladimir Putin.
Speaking in the Locarno room in the Foreign Office on Thursday, the foreign secretary said that Russian aggression had ripped up the established world order from the 1990s.
Underlining his policy thrust of “progressive realism” he also took aim at the previous Tory governments for undermining Britain’s place in the world. He tipped his hat to repairing some of the damaged relationships not just with the EU.
He also defended taking “a pragmatic approach” to relations with China cooperating on issues such as artificial intelligence and climate change.
Mr Lammy told an invited audience: “We and our allies must relearn the Cold War manual, long-term thinking, not short-termism.
“Consistent deterrence, not constant distraction. Adapting as emerging technology reshapes the strategic environment. Securing strategic stability in an unstable world.”
And he warned: “Our opponents are coordinating ever more closely.
“With Iranian drones fired at Ukrainian cities and North Korean troops now fighting against Ukraine.”
With Donald Trump threatening to unpick the international resolve on the war in Ukraine, Mr Lammy remained defiant over standing up to Putin.
He said: “Against Russia, progressive realism means not allowing Putin’s mafia state to act with impunity. Showing the world our resolve to stand by Kyiv until they prevail, guaranteeing £3bn a year in military aid for as long as it takes and unlocking new funding backed by frozen Russian assets.”
He bemoaned the Tory legacy he has been bequeathed in foreign relations.
“Relations with our closest neighbours in Europe plunged to a post-war nadir.“
Climate leadership abandoned by Rishi Sunak.“Global investors horrified by Liz Truss’ kamikaze budget.“Migration left out of control and a botched merger under Boris Johnson.
“Our armed forced undermined by David Cameron’s cuts.”
“And the FCDO rudderless with 7 Foreign Secretaries in 7 years.”
The speech set out to define his approach to foreign affairs in a troubling time after his first six months in the FCDO.He even made a point of agreeing with Trump over defence spending.
“We have to be taken seriously by opponents and allies alike.
“We must put our money where our mouth is. That starts by facing facts. Donald Trump and J.D. Vance are simply right when they say that Europe needs to do more to defend its own continent.“It is myopia to pretend otherwise, with Russia on the march.”
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