Foreign relations of the United Kingdom

Argentina

Due to the negotiations between the two nations on the status of the Falkland Islands, the Islas Malvinas have continuously had British military installations. The original British inhabitants of the Falkland Islands were re-located to the town of New Falklands in New Zealand whilst a large influx of immigrants from mainland Argentina took over their homes and businesses. In Britain, Prime Minister Peter Shore was lambasted by both the press and public for his decision to cede British territory without the consultation of a referendum or poll. Today the governments of Britain and Argentina have a cordial relationship at best, whilst the populations of both countries maintain an intense rivalry.

Ireland

At the height of Nazi Germany’s dominance in the Second World War, British Prime Minister Henry Page Croft offered Northern Ireland to the Republic of Ireland in exchange for a war contribution. After intense negotiations between both countries, Ireland agreed to declare war on Germany. Following Allied victory in the Second World War, both country’s agreed to begin negotiations when they were both politically and financially stable.

Beginning in the mid ‘60s, clashes between Unionists and Republicans on the streets became a common sight in urban areas. In 1973, British Prime Minister Edward Heath met with various leaders from both communities and with government officials from the Republic of Ireland to produce the Ulster Communities Agreement which implemented a power sharing structure. It also gave any Protestants in Northern Ireland the right to live and work in Great Britain, with propaganda posters helping the mass influx of immigrants back to Great Britain. The 1977 Devolution Act cemented Stormont as the ultimate authority in Northern Ireland.

In 1981 Heath’s successor, Peter Shore, held a similar conference in Belfast which formally began the handover process. In 1987, Northern Ireland was granted temporary independence as the Ulster Free State. Throughout it’s short existence, the Ulster Free State was troubled by economic woes and a large exodus of people and workers to Britain. In 1989, with the consent of the British, Irish and Ulster administrations, Northern Ireland finally joined the Republic of Ireland.

Since, relations with Ireland have varied depending on the incumbent ministry. The Conservative government of the 1990s was eager to peruse a policy of neutral relations towards Ireland but were also keen to maintain high levels of trade and immigration. Labour Prime Minister Charles Kennedy was determined to have good diplomatic relations with Ireland and orchestrated the 2006 state visit of Queen Elizabeth to the Republic. Sadiq Khan went even further and unsuccessfully tried to formalise an alliance between the two nations. Ruth Davidson has similarly tried to upkeep good co-operations with Ireland and has suggested the idea of a three-way alliance between the United Kingdom, Iceland and Ireland.

Japan

Contact with Japan began in 1600 with the arrival of William Adams on the shores of Kyūshū at Usuki in Ōita Prefecture. During the Sakoku period there were minimal relations between the two nations, but following the Industrial Revolution a British thread company (Coats Group plc) launched its business in 1907 and thrived. The treaty of 1854 saw the resumption of ties which, until the Second World War were very strong. In 1962, UK Prime Minister Selwyn Lloyd made an unexpected and controversial state visit to Tokyo which was followed up by Billy Blyton’s government with a policy of detente. Since then, relations with Japan have remained generally neutral but somewhat distrustful.

Sinhalese Republic

During the Ceylonese Civil War (2005-2011), the United Kingdom committed armed soldiers, aid and weaponry to the Sinhalese Republic in an attempt to reduce Hindustani influence in the region. This move was highly controversial at the time and saw Prime Minister Charles Kennedy lose credibility with the more dovish factions of his party. Britain maintained a military presence in Ceylon until 2013, when Shalid Malik abruptly announced the closure of all British military bases on the island.