The UK is implementing a strategic framework to strengthen economic, development, and diplomatic engagement with Small Island Developing States (SIDS) across the Caribbean, Pacific, and Indian Ocean regions. Led by the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office, the strategy covers trade, climate resilience, and development partnerships, with a current five-year plan running from 2026 to 2030.
In response to: UK Small Island Developing States strategy 2026 to 2030
UIN: HCWS1238 I wish to update the House on the Government’s decision to publish a refreshed UK- SIDS Strategy for 2026-2030. This strategy sets out the major strands of UK support to SIDS’ climate and economic resilience based on partnership.Small …
UIN: HLWS1236 My Honourable Friend the Parliamentary Under Secretary of State for Multilateral, Human Rights, Latin America and the Caribbean (Chris Elmore MP) has today made the following statement:I wish to update the House on the Government’s decision to publish …
This strategy sets out the UK government’s refreshed approach to its partnership with Small Island Developing States (SIDS).
This strategy document sets out the UK's approach to the Antarctic over the next decade.
UIN: HCWS1113 The Government is today publishing a UK Antarctic Strategy. This sets out the UK’s aims and ambitions for the Antarctic for the next decade.The Strategy brings together the UK’s approach to the Antarctic under a single document for …
UIN: HLWS1113 My Honourable Friend the Minister of State for Europe, North America and Overseas Territories (Stephen Doughty MP) has today made the following statement:The Government is today publishing a UK Antarctic Strategy. This sets out the UK’s aims and …
We welcome the Government’s publication of the Small Island Developing States Strategy 2022–2026. Being a firm, committed supporter of SIDS in addressing their developmental and environmental challenges is not only morally right; it is also in the UK’s geopolitical interest. …
The Government must honour the commitment it made to provide the Committee with a written update on progress in delivering the SIDS Strategy across the six areas of focus by 30 September 2024. Points that the report should cover are …
We recognise that there could be risks in moving towards the use of vulnerability- based measures in determining ODA eligibility. However, such a move is necessary for ensuring that vulnerable SIDS have the opportunity to access UK aid. It will …
The UK Government should use its membership of, and influence within, the OECD to advocate that ODA eligibility criteria be reformed to reflect SIDS’ vulnerabilities. This could take the form of a ‘small island exception’ as employed by the World …
The UK Government should use its co-chairmanship of the Green Climate Fund’s board to advocate for policies that will improve SIDS’ access to GCF resources, consistent with the commitments outlined in its 2024–27 Strategic Plan—especially in the area of simplified …
The Committee is concerned that, given its importance to Small Island Developing States, the UK SIDS Strategy makes no mention of issues of loss and damage. We are also disappointed that, having stated its aspiration in the SIDS Strategy to …
The issues of legal statehood and maritime zone continuity provide the UK Government with an opportunity to exercise international leadership in supporting SIDS to address an existential threat. Type: conclusion | Number: 15 | Paragraph: 49 | Response status: accepted …
In the light of the ILC’s impending report on the topic, the UK Government should commit to working with like-minded states to explore ways of (i) formally recognising the continuity of Small Island Developing States’ legal statehood, should all their …
This Committee acknowledges and welcomes the UK Government’s efforts to ensure that its capacity-building programmes in Small Island Developing States are driven by local needs. However, these efforts can be undermined by short-term funding horizons. Type: conclusion | Number: 17 …
In its partnerships with SIDS, the Government should therefore commit to making multi-year funded programmes the norm. Type: recommendation | Number: 18 | Paragraph: 58 | Response status: partially_accepted Government response: Partly Agree 22. The FCDO currently has several multi-year …
We commend the UK’s active support for SIDS’ collective action and international advocacy. However, SIDS’ inter-regional co-operation remains underdeveloped and under-resourced. Type: conclusion | Number: 19 | Paragraph: 61 | Response status: accepted Government response: Partly Agree 23. The FCDO
The Government should consider providing a small amount of direct funding annually to the Alliance of Small Island States Secretariat to support its work of amplifying SIDS’ collective voice in international fora. The 4th SIDS Conference in May presents the …
Given the disproportionate impact of SIDS’ environmental and economic challenges on women and girls, it was disappointing to see no explicit mention of gender in the UK SIDS Strategy. Type: conclusion | Number: 21 | Paragraph: 69 | Response status: …
In its approach to SIDS, the FCDO should ensure that the gendered impacts of SIDS’ environmental and developmental challenges are identified and addressed, and that UK support for SIDS is designed and implemented in a way that considers the impact …
Given that the UK SIDS Strategy sets out “Ocean and Biodiversity” as an area of focus, it is concerning that the Government has ostensibly deprioritised the ratification of the Global Ocean Treaty by failing to designate the Parliamentary time necessary …
This Committee is concerned that the UK Government’s domestic policies are making it difficult for the UK to be seen as a serious partner to SIDS—the countries likely to be hit hardest by a failure of the international community to …
This Committee urges the Government to implement the next steps on domestic opportunities for climate leadership outlined in the Climate Change Committee’s January 2024 Briefing Note. (Paragraph 80) The UK Small Island Developing States Strategy 45 Type: conclusion | Number: …
UIN: HLWS378 This statement provides an update on UK leadership and engagement on current international ocean issues.The 2021 Integrated Review of Security, Defence, Development and Foreign Policy and its 2023 Refresh set out the UK’s vision that by 2030 the …
The UK must rekindle its statecraft skills and reaffirm its commitment as a reliable partner to countries in South-East Asia and the Pacific, in order to uphold the international rules-based order, given its proximity to China and the political diversity …
The UK Government’s future strategy for the Indo-Pacific is still unclear. The Government should create a dedicated Indo-Pacific strategy, which sets out how military instruments can be used in support of the UK’s wider pursuit of its goals and interests …
The UK’s approach to Indonesia should be underpinned by sufficient diplomatic capacity and greater political willingness than it is currently perceived to have. (Paragraph 216) Pacific Islands Type: conclusion | Number: 65 | Response status: accepted Government response: 161. The …
We encourage repeat visits by the Foreign Secretary to the Pacific Islands at appropriate intervals and recommend that the Government consider attending Pacific Islands Forum (PIF) meetings such as the PIF leaders meeting. We also recommend setting up a UK-Pacific …
The Indo-Pacific Tilt served to confirm an existing trend of increasing engagement with countries in the Indo-Pacific region and demonstrated the intent of Government to persist with and deepen this engagement in the long term. However, there has been no …
Therefore, we welcome the Foreign Secretary’s recognition that delivery of the Tilt’s outcomes is by no means complete, that his statement provides long-term intent, and that the Government will be keen to ensure that it is supported by a correspondingly …
We welcome the realistic and pragmatic response in the Refresh to recent geopolitical events and trends, in particular the primary focus on the Euro-Atlantic and the establishment of the Indo-Pacific as a permanent pillar of the UK’s international policy. Type: …
While welcoming the extra £20 million to be spent on the BBC World Service, including for protecting the 42 foreign languages in which it broadcasts, we recommend that World Service coverage should be restored in languages which have been discontinued …
The Government should explore and exploit opportunities for further developing of people-to-people and defence/security links with Commonwealth countries in the Indo-Pacific region, based on historical ties and shared values. Type: recommendation | Number: 29 | Paragraph: 93 | Response status: …
The governments of the UK and Jamaica signed a joint communiqué at the inaugural Jamaica-UK Strategic Dialogue on 19 May 2023.
In response to: UK–Small Island Developing States (SIDS) development partnership summary
The UK Foreign Secretary and Caribbean foreign ministers met at the 11th UK-Caribbean Ministerial Forum in Kingston, Jamaica, on 18 May 2023.
In response to: UK Small Island Developing States strategy 2022 to 2026
This strategy sets out the UK government’s new approach to Small Island Developing States (SIDS), a vital part of our global community.
The Indo-Pacific tilt is a significant change in the UK’s defence posture which will increase the demand and risk placed on finite resources. We will consider the value and effectiveness of the overall tilt policy and greater engagement in the …
Building the capacity of local authorities and grassroots organisations in LDCs and SIDS to tackle climate change requires more attention. We urge the FCDO to grow long-term capacity in LDCs and SIDS by lengthening programme cycles to 5–10 years for …
The Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO) and The Caribbean Community (CARICOM) organised a regional roundtable dialogue on access to finance for small island developing states (SIDS).
The UK Mission to the United Nations and Alliance of Small Island States (AOSIS) held a roundtable dialogue on access to finance for small island developing states (SIDS).
However, Britain’s global ambitions now include a tilt to the Indo-Pacific, with the Government promising to deepen engagement by our armed forces and establish a greater and more persistent presence there as well. Type: conclusion | Number: 18 | Paragraph: …
The United Kingdom and Australia have agreed shared Antarctic priorities for the period 2021 to 2026.
The UK has a strong record for building coalitions for climate action, such as the High Ambition Coalition at UN climate negotiations, and it could build upon this A climate for ambition: Diplomatic preparations for COP26 21 during its COP …