2021 was disastrous for Franco-British relations, with mistrust on both sides. What Charles de Gaulle once lamented as the UK’s lack of “community spirit'' has been seen on both sides over the last 11 months.

When dealing with the Kremlin, the Conservative Government is tough in rhetoric and weak in action – the worst possible combination.

There is substantial evidence that the Lukashenko government has sought to capitalise on current regional instability by creating false promises of a simple journey into the EU, using Belarus as a point of access.

The UK must use its Presidency of COP26 to reinvigorate the UNFCCC process, create momentum behind the 1.5 degrees goal and persuade the major emitters to increase the ambition of their Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs).

Rising populist movements across the world have not only rewritten the rules of domestic politics, but increasingly influence foreign policy as well.

Labour should welcome AUKUS in principle as a stabilising pact between liberal democracies, in a region which could experience rising tensions in coming years.

A UK carbon border tax (CBT) could kill two birds with one stone: reducing global carbon emissions while also reducing UK reliance on Chinese and Russian energy and metal imports.

The situation in Afghanistan is worsening by the hour. It reflects a catastrophic miscalculation of the capacity and legitimacy of the Afghan government, and the resilience of Afghan forces.

Labour’s approach to China must move beyond a focus on foreign policy and human rights and particularly address domestic policy, with an emphasis on supply chains, resilient infrastructure and technological autonomy.

Decarbonisation provides an opportunity to revive and modernise the nation’s manufacturing base, while also ensuring strategic energy independence from China.