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Defending Democracy Abroad: The UK’s Foreign Policy Response to Authoritarian Powers

by Azzurra Bassettiin Commentaryon Posted on

Editor’s Note: This piece is brought to you by Azzurra Bassetti, a junior geopolitical analyst with Istituto Analisi Relazioni Internazionali and Master’s graduate in International Relations from the Institut Barcelona d’Estudis Internacionals.

‘Many forms of Government have been tried, and will be tried in this world of sin and woe. No one pretends that democracy is perfect or all-wise. Indeed it has been said that democracy is the worst form of Government except for all those other forms that have been tried from time to time.…’
— Winston Churchill, November 11, 1947

Despite its shortcomings, democracy was acknowledged by Sir Winston Churchill, twice Prime Minister of the United Kingdom (UK) — from 1940 to 1945 and again from 1951 to 1955 — as the finest system of governance. These few lines were a cornerstone of British politics in 1947 and remain hugely significant today, standing as an invaluable legacy for the nearly 67 million people currently living in the UK. This aspect can be noticed by consulting the latest data released by Freedom House and the Economist Intelligence Unit, according to which the UK enjoys a stable and fully-fledged democracy. Indeed, the country led by Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer (in office since July 5, 2024) benefits from free and fair elections and a system in which diverse voices are heard, thanks to robust political pluralism.

If, at the national level, there is a consistent commitment to upholding democratic principles by the two main British parties — the Labour Party in government and the Conservative Party in opposition — it is natural to wonder whether this commitment also extends to the international sphere. In seeking a comprehensive answer to this question, it is worthwhile examining the UK’s position on various fronts. This can be done by carefully analysing the visual overview below. Although it does not cover all the alliances and partnerships the UK maintains with global powers, it provides a general picture of the country’s approach to democracy as reflected in its security and economic matters.

AUKUS

The Trilateral Security Partnership between Australia, the UK, and the United States (AUKUS) was established to promote a free, open, secure, and stable Indo-Pacific region. The security policy advanced by the leaders of AUKUS has a fundamental objective in this area, namely, to counter what Canberra, London, and Washington perceive as a threat.

In light of this, the British and American leadership are providing constant support to the country led by Anthony Albanese for the development of its infrastructure, technical capabilities, and human capital. The backing given to Australia by its Western allies is emerging as decisive in a situation of growing pressure. Among the episodes of concern is the recent circumnavigation of the Australian continent by the People’s Liberation Army Navy (PLA), involving the Type 055 missile destroyer Zunyi, the Type 054A frigate Hengyang, and the Type 903 supply ship Weishanhu. “Australia is very much on the menu,” stated retired US Marine Colonel Grant Newsham, emphasizing China’s keen interest in Oceania’s largest country. This geopolitical framework becomes even more precarious when joint military exercises between China and Russia and tensions in the South China Sea over sovereignty claims are taken into account.

AUKUS reflects a desire to respond to the strategic dynamics set by China, Russia, and North Korea, three nations with a strong presence in the Indo-Pacific region. More specifically, this trilateral alliance reveals the inclination of the UK, together with Australia and the United States, to extend democratic values internationally. These include respect for the rule of law, national sovereignty, and dispute resolution without resorting to coercive behaviour.

NATO and JEF

The United Kingdom, considered ‘the leading European ally within NATO’, is one of the most important players in the political and military alliance of the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation and heads the coalition of Northern and Eastern European states that form the Joint Expeditionary Force (JEF). On April 4, 1949, with the signing of the Washington Treaty, the UK established itself as one of the countries promoting democratic values, individual freedom, human rights, and the rule of law. The position of the country led by Starmer was significantly strengthened in 2014 with the signing of the Foundation Memorandum of Understanding, allowing the creation of the JEF, a subgroup within NATO.

In addressing the question of defense, NATO was established with the objective of encouraging collective protection among member states, whereas the JEF originated from a shared desire to maintain security and stability in the Nordic and Baltic regions. It is not surprising that the idea of threat frequently appears when discussing security and defense, and it is reasonable to wonder where that threat originates. According to the British government’s 2021 Integrated Review of Security, Defence, Development, and Foreign Policy, the greatest threat to the North Atlantic alliance comes from the Russian Federation. However, given the area in which it operates, the same argument can be made with regard to the JEF. The purpose remains to deter Moscow, which has been strongly condemned for its aggression against Ukraine’s sovereignty, first with the annexation of Crimea in 2014 and then with the invasion of 2022. Although the security dimension is evident in both cases, the political dimension is more explicit in the case of NATO. However, what emerges from a careful analysis is a shared intent. This includes strong support for Ukraine, its right to self-defense, and the promotion of a democratic model as opposed to authoritarian revisionism.

Support for democracy within NATO, the JEF, and particularly in Ukraine, in the context of the conflict between Moscow and Kyiv, is a priority in the UK’s foreign policy. As a key actor in a rapidly evolving international order, London aims to shape global change by promoting a liberal structure based on open societies, market economies, and respect for moral values.

G7

The United Kingdom, along with six other of the world’s most industrialized countries, is also a member of the Group of 7 (G7). Originally established as an economic partnership, the G7 has gradually evolved, expanding its agenda to include a wide range of issues, from geopolitics to human security challenges. This aspect is also evident from the fact that politics is becoming increasingly central to the group. Proof of this can be found in the G7 Summit chaired by former British Prime Minister Boris Johnson in Cornwall in June 2021. On this occasion, to strengthen democratic representation at the global level, Australia, India, South Korea, and South Africa were also invited to participate. In the wake of the democratic cooperation in technology promoted by then-U.S. President Joe Biden, Prime Minister Johnson suggested the possible creation of a format that would include Melbourne, New Delhi, and Seoul alongside the G7 members. Although the D-10 Strategy Forum has not been uniformly welcomed by all participating countries — with some opposing the idea of a bloc that could hinder broader international cooperation — the UK’s interest in the project demonstrates London’s commitment to promoting democracy both domestically and globally.

Although the analysis addresses issues that are not always conventional in discussions of democracy, it offers an interesting and multifaceted perspective. The decision to examine democratic values from a non-strictly political perspective was made in order to better understand what Churchill’s country—and now Starmer’s—seeks to convey. Observing London’s involvement on multiple fronts allows us to see how its choices are guided by a consistent desire to promote democracy around the world.

The emerging trend aligns with what Tim Marshall writes in his book The Power of Geography. Marshall anticipates a concept of considerable importance for the historical and social context in which world powers operate. While the approximately forty years of the Cold War (1947-1989) saw a confrontation between the United States and the Soviet Union, the current and probably future era seems to be moving away from this bipolar opposition between superpowers. The resulting scenario is that of a more complex multipolar order, marked by a dividing line between democratic and authoritarian regimes. This is not a clear-cut divide that excludes hybrid regimes but rather a geopolitical fragmentation in which the concept of institutional similarity, supported by Democratic Peace Theory and Dictatorial Peace, finds space and foundation. In this new order, the United Kingdom appears as a ‘middle power’ with global reach, working assiduously to uphold democratic values and playing a crucial role in containing the expansion of authoritarianism.

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