Boris Johnson's tenure as Foreign Secretary: Difference between revisions
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{{Short description|Foreign Office under Boris Johnson ( |
{{Short description|Foreign Office under Boris Johnson (2016–2018)}} |
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{{Infobox administration|image=Boris |
{{Infobox administration|image=Boris johnson (cropped).jpg|caption=Boris Johnson in his 2016 official portrait|name=Boris Johnson's tenure as Foreign Secretary|term_start=13 July 2016|term_end=9 July 2018|monarch_link=Monarchy of the United Kingdom|party=[[Conservative Party (UK)|Conservative]]|appointer=[[Elizabeth II]]|nominator=[[Theresa May]]|predecessor=[[Philip Hammond]]|successor=[[Jeremy Hunt]]|seal=Royal Coat of Arms of the United Kingdom (HM Government) (2022).svg}}[[Boris Johnson]] served as [[Foreign Secretary|foreign secretary]] from 2016 until 2018. As a member of [[Theresa May]]'s government, Johnson was appointed Foreign Secretary on 13 July 2016, shortly after May became prime minister following the resignation of [[David Cameron]]. Analysts saw the appointment as a tactic to weaken Johnson politically: the new positions of "[[Brexit secretary]]" and [[international trade secretary]] left the foreign secretary as a figurehead with few powers.<ref name="BloombergFSec">{{cite news |last=Hutton |first=Robert |title=Boris Johnson Appointed U.K. Foreign Secretary in May Government |url=https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2016-07-13/boris-johnson-appointed-u-k-foreign-secretary-in-may-government |access-date=13 July 2016 |publisher=Bloomberg L.P.}}</ref><ref name="GoodForMay">{{cite news |last=Bush |first=Stephen |date=14 July 2016 |title=Sending Boris Johnson to the Foreign Office is bad for Britain, good for Theresa May |url=http://www.newstatesman.com/politics/staggers/2016/07/sending-boris-johnson-foreign-office-bad-britain-good-theresa-may |access-date=14 July 2016 |work=New Statesman}}</ref> |
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Johnson's appointment ensured he would often be out of the country and unable to organise and mobilise backbenchers against her, while forcing him to take responsibility for problems caused by withdrawing from the EU.<ref>{{cite news |last=Hüetlin |first=Thomas |date=14 July 2016 |title=Boris Johnson als Außenminister: Der Prügelknabe |trans-title=Boris Johnson as Foreign Secretary: The whipping boy |url=http://www.spiegel.de/politik/ausland/boris-johnson-als-britischer-aussenminister-der-muellmann-von-number-10-kommentar-a-1102927.html |access-date=14 July 2016 |work=[[Der Spiegel]] |language=de}}</ref><ref name="NewYorker">{{cite magazine |last=Cassidy |first=John |date=13 July 2016 |title=The Huge Challenge Facing Theresa May |url=https://www.newyorker.com/news/john-cassidy/the-huge-challenge-facing-theresa-may |access-date=14 July 2016 |magazine=[[The New Yorker]]}}</ref> He held the post until he resigned on 9 July 2018 in protest at the [[Chequers Plan]] and May's approach to [[Brexit]], and was succeeded by [[Jeremy Hunt]]. Notable events of his tenure included the response to the [[poisoning of Sergei and Yulia Skripal]], the imprisonment of [[Nazanin Zaghari-Ratcliffe]] and support for the [[Saudi Arabian–led intervention in Yemen]]. |
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After May resigned in May 2019, Johnson won [[2019 Conservative Party leadership election|the Conservative leadership election]] to replace her, [[Premiership of Boris Johnson|serving as Conservative leader and prime minister from July 2019 to September 2022]]. |
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== Appointment == |
== Appointment == |
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{{Boris Johnson sidebar}}After [[Theresa May]] |
{{Boris Johnson sidebar}}After [[Theresa May]] became leader of the Conservative and Prime Minister, Johnson was appointed as [[Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs]] on 13 July 2016.<ref name="BloombergFSec2">{{cite news |last=Hutton |first=Robert |title=Boris Johnson Appointed U.K. Foreign Secretary in May Government |url=https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2016-07-13/boris-johnson-appointed-u-k-foreign-secretary-in-may-government |access-date=13 July 2016 |website=Bloomberg.com}}</ref> Johnson's appointment was criticised by some journalists and foreign politicians due to his history of controversial statements about other countries and their leaders.<ref>{{cite news |author=Patrick Wintour |date=13 July 2016 |title=Boris Johnson and diplomacy are not synonymous |url=https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2016/jul/13/boris-johnson-diplomacy-not-synonymous |accessdate=14 July 2016 |newspaper=The Guardian}}</ref><ref name="FSecReactions2">{{cite news |date=14 July 2016 |title=Boris Johnson is foreign secretary: The world reacts |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/world-36790977 |accessdate=14 July 2016 |publisher=BBC News}}</ref><ref name="GuardianReactions2">{{cite news |author=Bonnie Malkin |author2=Philip Oltermann |author3=Tom Phillips |date=14 July 2016 |title='Maybe the Brits are just having us on': the world reacts to Boris Johnson as foreign minister |url=https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2016/jul/14/maybe-the-brits-are-just-having-us-on-the-world-reacts-to-boris-johnson-as-foreign-minister |accessdate=14 July 2016 |newspaper=The Guardian}}</ref> Former [[Prime Minister of Sweden]] [[Carl Bildt]] said "I wish it was a joke", and French Foreign Minister [[Jean-Marc Ayrault]] stated: "I am not at all worried about Boris Johnson, but ... during the campaign he lied a lot to the British people and now it is he who has his back against the wall" as the UK tries to negotiate its future relationship with EU.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Holton |first1=Kate |last2=Pitas |first2=Costas |date=14 July 2016 |title=May builds new-look Brexit cabinet to steer EU divorce |url=https://www.reuters.com/article/us-britain-eu-wrapup-idUSKCN0ZU1HE |access-date=14 July 2016 |website=Reuters |publisher=Thomson Reuters}}</ref> Conversely, former [[Prime Minister of Australia]] [[Tony Abbott]] welcomed the appointment and called him "a friend of Australia".<ref name="GuardianReactions2" /> A senior official in the US government suggested that Johnson's appointment would push the US further towards [[Germany–United States relations|ties with Germany]] at the expense of the [[Special Relationship]] with the UK.<ref name="ITV201607142">{{cite news |author=Robert Moore |date=14 July 2016 |title=Boris Johnson's appointment as Foreign Secretary has not gone down well in the United States |url=http://www.itv.com/news/2016-07-13/reaction-boris-johnson-foreign-secretary-united-states-of-america/ |accessdate=14 July 2016 |publisher=ITV News}}</ref> |
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Several analysts described the appointment as a possible tactic by May to weaken Johnson politically: the new positions of "[[Brexit Secretary]]" and [[International Trade Secretary]] leave the Foreign Secretary as a figurehead with few powers,<ref name="BloombergFSec2" /><ref name="GoodForMay2">{{cite news |author=Stephen Bush |date=14 July 2016 |title=Sending Boris Johnson to the Foreign Office is bad for Britain, good for Theresa May |url=http://www.newstatesman.com/politics/staggers/2016/07/sending-boris-johnson-foreign-office-bad-britain-good-theresa-may |accessdate=14 July 2016 |work=New Statesman}}</ref> and the appointment would ensure that Johnson would often be out of the country and unable to organise a rebel coalition, while also forcing him to take responsibility for any problems caused by withdrawing from the EU.<ref>{{cite news |author=Thomas Hüetlin |date=14 July 2016 |title=Boris Johnson als Außenminister: Der Prügelknabe |trans-title=Boris Johnson as Foreign Secretary: The whipping boy |url=http://www.spiegel.de/politik/ausland/boris-johnson-als-britischer-aussenminister-der-muellmann-von-number-10-kommentar-a-1102927.html |accessdate=14 July 2016 |newspaper=[[Der Spiegel]] |language=German}}</ref><ref name="NewYorker2">{{cite news |author=John Cassidy |date=13 July 2016 |title=The Huge Challenge Facing Theresa May |url=http://www.newyorker.com/news/john-cassidy/the-huge-challenge-facing-theresa-may |accessdate=14 July 2016 |newspaper=New Yorker}}</ref> |
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Some journalists and foreign politicians criticised Johnson's appointment because of his history of controversial statements about other countries.<ref>{{cite news |last=Wintour |first=Patrick |date=13 July 2016 |title=Boris Johnson and diplomacy are not synonymous |work=The Guardian |url=https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2016/jul/13/boris-johnson-diplomacy-not-synonymous |access-date=14 July 2016}}</ref><ref name="FSecReactions">{{cite news |date=14 July 2016 |title=Boris Johnson is foreign secretary: The world reacts |work=BBC News |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/world-36790977 |access-date=14 July 2016}}</ref><ref name="GuardianReactions">{{cite news |last1=Malkin |first1=Bonnie |last2=Oltermann |first2=Philip |last3=Phillips |first3=Tom |date=14 July 2016 |title='Maybe the Brits are just having us on': the world reacts to Boris Johnson as foreign minister |work=The Guardian |url=https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2016/jul/14/maybe-the-brits-are-just-having-us-on-the-world-reacts-to-boris-johnson-as-foreign-minister |access-date=14 July 2016}}</ref> His tenure in the role attracted criticism from diplomats and foreign policy experts.<ref name="bbc">{{cite news |date=9 July 2018 |title=Boris Johnson: What did he achieve as foreign secretary? |work=BBC News |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-politics-44767848 |access-date=10 January 2021}}</ref><ref name="theguardian3">{{Cite news |last=Hopkins |first=Nick |date=18 July 2019 |title=What diplomats really think about Boris Johnson |work=The Guardian |url=https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2019/jul/18/what-diplomats-really-think-about-boris-johnson |access-date=10 January 2021 |issn=0261-3077}}</ref> A number of diplomats, FCO staff and foreign ministers who worked with Johnson compared his leadership unfavourably to previous foreign secretaries for his perceived lack of conviction or substantive positions on British foreign policy issues.<ref name="bbc" /><ref name="theguardian3" /> Former Swedish [[Prime Minister of Sweden|prime minister]] [[Carl Bildt]] said: "I wish it was a joke."<ref>{{cite news |last1=Holton |first1=Kate |last2=Pitas |first2=Costas |date=14 July 2016 |title=May builds new-look Brexit cabinet to steer EU divorce |work=[[Reuters]] |url=https://www.reuters.com/article/us-britain-eu-wrapup-idUSKCN0ZU1HE |access-date=14 July 2016}}</ref> A senior official in Obama's government suggested Johnson's appointment would push the US further towards [[Germany–United States relations|Germany]] at the expense of the [[Special Relationship]] with the UK.<ref name="ITV20160714">{{cite news |last=Moore |first=Robert |date=14 July 2016 |title=Boris Johnson's appointment as Foreign Secretary has not gone down well in the United States |publisher=ITV News |url=http://www.itv.com/news/2016-07-13/reaction-boris-johnson-foreign-secretary-united-states-of-america/ |access-date=14 July 2016}}</ref> On one occasion Egyptian president [[Abdel Fattah el-Sisi]] walked out of a meeting with Johnson after a meeting did not "get beyond the pleasantries".<ref name="bbc" /> |
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== Tenure == |
== Tenure == |
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[[File:Secretary_Kerry_Poses_With_Saudi_Arabia_Foreign_Minister_Al-Jubeir,_British_Foreign_Secretary_Johnson_and_United_Arab_Emirates_Foreign_Minister_Al_Nahyan_in_London_(27801916664).jpg|thumb|Johnson with US Secretary of State [[John Kerry]], Saudi Arabia's Foreign Minister [[Adel al-Jubeir]] and the UAE's Foreign Minister [[Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nahyan]] in London, 19 July 2016]] |
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Johnson's visit to Turkey from 25 to 27 September 2016 was somewhat tense because he had won [[Douglas Murray (author)|Douglas Murray]]'s offensive poetry competition about the President of Turkey, [[Recep Tayyip Erdoğan]], four months earlier.<ref>{{cite news |last=Murray |first=Douglas |date=18 May 2016 |title=Boris Johnson wins The Spectator's President Erdogan Offensive Poetry competition |work=The Spectator |url=https://blogs.spectator.co.uk/2016/05/boris-johnson-wins-the-spectators-president-erdogan-offensive-poetry-competition/}}</ref> When questioned by a journalist whether he would apologise for the poem, Johnson dismissed the matter as "trivia".<ref>{{cite news |author=Steerpike |date=27 September 2016 |title=Boris Johnson refuses to apologise for his President Erdogan poem |work=The Spectator |url=https://blogs.spectator.co.uk/2016/09/boris-johnson-refuses-apologise-insulting-president-erdogan/}}</ref> Johnson pledged to help [[Accession of Turkey to the European Union|Turkey join the EU]] and expressed support for Erdogan's government.<ref>{{cite news |date=28 September 2016 |title=Boris Johnson: UK will help Turkey join the EU |work=[[Politico]] |url=http://www.politico.eu/article/boris-johnson-uk-will-help-turkey-join-the-eu/}}</ref> Johnson supported the [[Saudi Arabian-led intervention in Yemen]] and refused to block UK arms sales to Saudi Arabia,<ref>{{cite news |date=21 September 2016 |title=Boris Johnson urged to back probe into international law violations in Yemen |work=The Independent |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/politics/boris-johnson-urged-to-back-probe-into-international-law-violations-during-yemen-war-a7321496.html}}</ref> stating there was no clear evidence of breaches of international humanitarian law by Saudi Arabia in the war in [[Yemen]].<ref>{{cite news |date=5 September 2016 |title=Boris Johnson defends UK arms sales to Saudi Arabia |work=The Guardian |url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2016/sep/05/mps-to-urge-ban-on-uk-arms-sales-to-saudi-arabia}}</ref> In September 2016, human rights groups accused him of blocking the UN inquiry into Saudi war crimes in Yemen.<ref>{{cite news |date=27 September 2016 |title=Boris Johnson criticised by human rights groups after blocking inquiry into war crimes in Yemen |work=The Independent |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/middle-east/boris-johnson-yemen-criticised-human-rights-watch-amnesty-international-blocking-war-crimes-inquiry-a7330136.html}}</ref> Given the UK-Saudi alliance, in December, he attracted attention for commenting the Saudis were akin to the Iranians in "puppeteering and playing [[Iran–Saudi Arabia proxy conflict|proxy wars]]" throughout the Middle East.<ref name="bbc.co.uk">{{cite news |date=8 December 2016 |title=Boris Johnson accuses Saudi Arabia of 'playing proxy wars' |work=BBC News |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-38245902 |access-date=4 May 2017}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last=Tovey |first=Alan |date=8 March 2015 |title=Charted: the world's biggest arms importers |work=The Telegraph |url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/finance/newsbysector/industry/defence/11455304/Charted-the-worlds-biggest-arms-importers.html |url-status=live |url-access=limited |access-date=5 May 2021 |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20220110/https://www.telegraph.co.uk/finance/newsbysector/industry/defence/11455304/Charted-the-worlds-biggest-arms-importers.html |archive-date=10 January 2022}}{{cbignore}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last=Dominiczak |first=Peter |date=8 December 2016 |title=Row over Saudi Arabia comments blows open rift between Theresa May and Boris Johnson |work=The Daily Telegraph |url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2016/12/08/boris-johnson-theresa-may-odds-pm-rebukes-foreign-secretary/ |url-status=live |url-access=limited |access-date=5 May 2021 |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20220110/https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2016/12/08/boris-johnson-theresa-may-odds-pm-rebukes-foreign-secretary/ |archive-date=10 January 2022}}{{cbignore}}</ref> May said his comments did not represent the government's view.<ref>{{cite news |date=8 December 2016 |title=Boris Johnson's Saudi 'proxy wars' comment 'not UK's view' |work=BBC News |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-38248316 |access-date=4 May 2017}}</ref> |
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[[File:Boris_Johnson_and_Aung_San_Suu_Kyi_2016.jpg|left|thumb|Johnson meeting [[Myanmar]]'s de facto leader [[Aung San Suu Kyi]] in London, 12 September 2016]] |
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[[File:President_Donald_J._Trump_and_the_British_Secretary_of_State_for_Foreign_and_Commonwealth_Affairs_Boris_Johnson_(37425398262).jpg|left|thumb|Johnson with US President [[Donald Trump]] in 2017 [[UNGA]]]] |
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In August 2016, May called on "feuding ministers" Johnson and Liam Fox to 'stop playing games' after Fox wrote to Johnson saying that British trade could not flourish whilst future policy responsibility remained in Johnson's department.<ref>{{cite news |author=Steven Swinford |date=14 August 2016 |title=Theresa May tells feuding ministers to 'stop playing games' and get on with the job |url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2016/08/14/theresa-may-tells-feuding-ministers-to-stop-playing-games-and-ge/ |accessdate=16 August 2016 |work=Daily Telegraph}}</ref> His recorded message supporting Change Britain was perceived by ''The Guardian'' as putting pressure on May to speed up the exit process though the newspaper also recorded the anger of former health minister [[Anna Soubry]] at the absence of the central "£350m-a-week bonanza for the NHS" pledge -a pledge she had previously described as a lie.<ref>{{cite news |author=Peter Walker and Toby Helm |date=11 September 2016 |title=Boris Johnson backs Brexit pressure campaign Change Britain |url=https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2016/sep/11/boris-johnson-backs-brexit-pressure-campaign-change-britain |accessdate=11 September 2016 |work=The Guardian}}</ref> In an article critical of Leave campaign figures, which noted his video and his lack of support for May, ''[[The Washington Post]]'' called him "bombastic".<ref>{{cite news |author=Griff Witte |date=17 September 2016 |title=What does Brexit mean? With divorce talks looming, Britain still doesn't have a clue. |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/what-does-brexit-mean-with-divorce-talks-looming-britain-still-doesnt-have-a-clue/2016/09/16/b2cb7718-79d1-11e6-8064-c1ddc8a724bb_story.html |accessdate=18 September 2016 |newspaper=Washington Post}}</ref> |
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In November 2017, Johnson told the [[Foreign Affairs Select Committee]] that [[Nazanin Zaghari-Ratcliffe]]—a British-Iranian dual citizen serving a five-year prison sentence in Iran after being arrested for training citizen journalists and bloggers in a [[BBC World Service Trust]] project—had been "simply teaching people journalism". Zaghari-Ratcliffe had said that her visit had been made simply for her daughter to meet her grandparents. Facing criticism, Johnson stated he had been misquoted and that nothing he said had justified Zaghari-Ratcliffe's sentence.<ref>{{cite news |date=6 November 2017 |title=Fears for Nazanin Zaghari-Ratcliffe after Boris Johnson remark |work=BBC News |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-41890885 |access-date=7 November 2017}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last=Rawlinson |first=Kevin |date=7 November 2017 |title=Boris Johnson to call Iran in wake of comments about jailed Briton |work=The Guardian |url=https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2017/nov/07/boris-johnson-to-call-iran-in-wake-of-comments-about-jailed-briton |access-date=7 November 2017}}</ref> In May 2018, Johnson backed<ref>{{cite web |date=1 May 2018 |title=Boris Johnson defends Iran nuclear deal after Israeli claims |url=https://www.breakingnews.ie/world/boris-johnson-defends-iran-nuclear-deal-after-israeli-claims-840284.html |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190610060854/https://www.breakingnews.ie/world/boris-johnson-defends-iran-nuclear-deal-after-israeli-claims-840284.html |archive-date=10 June 2019 |access-date=16 May 2018}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last=Wintour |first=Patrick |date=9 May 2018 |title=UK will not follow Trump in ditching Iran deal, Boris Johnson vows |work=The Guardian |url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2018/may/09/uk-will-not-follow-trump-in-ditching-iran-deal-boris-johnson-vows}}</ref> the [[Iran nuclear deal framework]], despite Donald Trump's withdrawal.<ref>{{cite web |title=Trump pulls US out of Iran deal: Here's what to know |url=https://www.politifact.com/truth-o-meter/article/2018/may/08/trump-withdrew-us-iran-nuclear-deal-heres-what-you/ |website=PolitiFact}}</ref> Johnson said the deal brought economic benefits to the Iranian people.<ref>{{cite news |last=Burchard |first=Hans von der |date=21 May 2018 |title=Boris Johnson calls US plan for new Iran deal 'very difficult' |work=Politico |url=https://www.politico.eu/article/boris-johnson-calls-us-plan-for-new-iran-deal-very-difficult/ |access-date=25 August 2019 |quote=The advantage of the JCPOA was that it had a very clear objective. It protected the world from an Iranian nuclear bomb, and in return it gave the Iranians some recognizable economic benefits. That was at the core of it. The Americans have walked away from that.}}</ref> Johnson described the [[Gülen movement]] as a "cult" and supported [[2016–present purges in Turkey|Turkey's post-coup purges]]. He said that [[2016 Turkish coup d'état attempt|Turkey's coup attempt]] "was deeply violent, deeply anti-democratic, deeply sinister and it was totally right that it was crushed".<ref>{{cite news |date=28 September 2016 |title=Boris Johnson says he will help Turkey hunt for Gulenists in the UK |work=[[Business Insider]] |url=https://www.businessinsider.com/boris-johnson-pledges-to-help-turkey-get-to-the-bottom-of-gulenist-links-in-the-uk-2016-9}}</ref> |
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Johnson supported the [[Saudi Arabian-led intervention in Yemen]] and refused to block UK arms sales to [[Saudi Arabia]],<ref>{{cite news |date=21 September 2016 |title=Boris Johnson urged to back probe into international law violations in Yemen |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/politics/boris-johnson-urged-to-back-probe-into-international-law-violations-during-yemen-war-a7321496.html |work=The Independent}}</ref> saying there is no clear evidence of breaches of international humanitarian law by Saudi Arabia in the war in Yemen.<ref>{{cite news |date=5 September 2016 |title=Boris Johnson defends UK arms sales to Saudi Arabia |url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2016/sep/05/mps-to-urge-ban-on-uk-arms-sales-to-saudi-arabia |work=The Guardian}}</ref> In September 2016, he was accused of blocking the UN inquiry into Saudi war crimes in Yemen.<ref>{{cite news |date=27 September 2016 |title=Boris Johnson criticised by human rights groups after blocking inquiry into war crimes in Yemen |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/middle-east/boris-johnson-yemen-criticised-human-rights-watch-amnesty-international-blocking-war-crimes-inquiry-a7330136.html |work=The Independent}}</ref> |
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Johnson's first visit to Turkey as [[Foreign Secretary]] was somewhat tense due to his having won [[Douglas Murray (author)|Douglas Murray]]'s poetry competition about the President of Turkey, [[Recep Tayyip Erdoğan]], four months earlier.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Murray |first1=Douglas |date=18 May 2016 |title=Boris Johnson wins The Spectator's President Erdogan Offensive Poetry competition |url=https://blogs.spectator.co.uk/2016/05/boris-johnson-wins-the-spectators-president-erdogan-offensive-poetry-competition/ |work=The Spectator}}</ref> When questioned by a journalist whether he would apologise for the poem, which was published by ''[[The Spectator]]'', Johnson dismissed the matter as "trivia".<ref>{{cite news |last1=Steerpike |date=27 September 2016 |title=Boris Johnson refuses to apologise for his President Erdogan poem |url=https://blogs.spectator.co.uk/2016/09/boris-johnson-refuses-apologise-insulting-president-erdogan/ |work=The Spectator}}</ref> Johnson pledged to help [[Turkey]] join the [[European Union]] in "any way possible" and expressed Britain’s continued support for the elected Turkish Government.<ref>{{cite news |date=28 September 2016 |title=Boris Johnson: UK will help Turkey join the EU |url=http://www.politico.eu/article/boris-johnson-uk-will-help-turkey-join-the-eu/ |work=Politico}}</ref> |
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Johnson visited the islands of [[Anguilla]], and [[Tortola]] (in the [[British Virgin Islands]]) on 13 September 2017 to confirm the United Kingdom's commitment to helping restore British territories devastated by [[Hurricane Irma]].<ref>{{cite press release |url=https://www.gov.uk/government/news/hurricane-irma-foreign-secretarys-visit-to-the-uk-overseas-territories-in-the-Caribbean |title=Boris Johnson visited Anguilla and the British Virgin Islands after Hurricane Irma to see the UK's huge relief effort at first hand |access-date=13 September 2017 |website=gov.uk |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170913231113/https://www.gov.uk/government/news/hurricane-irma-foreign-secretarys-visit-to-the-uk-overseas-territories-in-the-caribbean |archive-date=13 September 2017}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=French, British officials view Irma's damage, vow island aid |url=http://bvtnews.com/news/french-british-officials-view-irmas-damage-vow-island-aid.html |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170914035407/http://bvtnews.com/news/french-british-officials-view-irmas-damage-vow-island-aid.html |archive-date=14 September 2017 |access-date=13 September 2017}}</ref> He said he was reminded of photos of [[Hiroshima]] after the [[atom bomb]] had landed on it.<ref>{{cite web |title=Boris Johnson reminded of Hiroshima on visit to Irma-hit Tortola |url=https://news.sky.com/story/boris-johnson-reminded-of-hiroshima-on-visit-to-irma-hit-tortola-11034613 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170918124642/https://news.sky.com/story/boris-johnson-reminded-of-hiroshima-on-visit-to-irma-hit-tortola-11034613 |archive-date=18 September 2017 |access-date=3 May 2018 |publisher=Sky UK}}</ref> |
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[[File:Secretary_Tillerson_Meets_With_Secretary_Johnson_in_Washington_(33210055250).jpg|thumb|Johnson and US Secretary of State [[Rex Tillerson]] in Washington, D.C., 2017]] |
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Upon meeting with Australian Foreign Minister, [[Julie Bishop]] in late September 2016, Johnson reiterated his support for negotiating increased visa access between the United Kingdom and Australia, declaring it "odd" that Australians struggled harder to settle in Britain than European nations such as Slovakia.<ref>{{cite news |date=23 September 2016 |title=Julie Bishop hopes for Britain-Australia exchanges in post-Brexit deal |url=http://www.theaustralian.com.au/national-affairs/foreign-affairs/julie-bishop-hopes-for-britainaustralia-exchanges-in-postbrexit-deal/news-story/29d2dd7960c18ab7da8176330d9595cb |work=The Australian}}</ref> In January 2017, the former government minister [[Lord Wallace of Saltaire]] said that Johnson's work on Brexit had left civil servants "in despair" and that he was "alienating other EU foreign ministers". The Foreign Office defended Johnson.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Baxter |first1=Holly |last2=Watts |first2=Joe |date=4 January 2017 |title=Brexit: Former government member says Foreign Office 'in despair' over Boris Johnson |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/politics/brexit-latest-news-lord-wallace-salitaire-boris-johnson-foreign-office-despiar-civil-servant-a7509181.html |accessdate=4 January 2017 |work=[[The Independent]]}}</ref> |
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In December 2016, at the Med 2 conference in Rome, Johnson said: "There are politicians who are twisting and abusing religion and different strains of the same religion in order to further their own political objectives. That's one of the biggest political problems in the whole region... That's why you've got the Saudis, Iran, everybody, moving in and puppeteering and playing proxy wars".<ref name="bbc.co.uk2">{{cite news |date=8 December 2016 |title=Boris Johnson accuses Saudi Arabia of 'playing proxy wars' |work=BBC News |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-38245902 |accessdate=4 May 2017 |publisher= }}</ref> These comments were interpreted as a diplomatic gaffe in Britain as Saudi Arabia is an ally of Britain and the biggest buyer of British arms.<ref name="bbc.co.uk2" /><ref>{{cite web |title=Charted: the world's biggest arms importers |date=8 March 2015 |url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/finance/newsbysector/industry/defence/11455304/Charted-the-worlds-biggest-arms-importers.html |accessdate=4 May 2017 |publisher=}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |last=Dominiczak |first=Peter |date=8 December 2016 |title=Row over Saudi Arabia comments blows open rift between Theresa May and Boris Johnson |url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2016/12/08/boris-johnson-theresa-may-odds-pm-rebukes-foreign-secretary/ |website=telegraph.co.uk}}</ref> British prime minister Theresa May said that the foreign minister's comments did not represent the government's view.<ref>{{cite web |date=8 December 2016 |title=Boris Johnson's Saudi 'proxy wars' comment 'not UK's view' |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-38248316 |accessdate=4 May 2017 |website=bbc.co.uk}}</ref> |
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In September 2017, he was criticised for reciting lines from [[Rudyard Kipling]]'s poem ''[[Mandalay (poem)|Mandalay]]'' while visiting a [[Myanmar]]<nowiki/>temple; the British ambassador, who was with him, suggested it was "not appropriate".<ref>{{cite news |date=30 September 2017 |title=Ambassador stops Boris Johnson 'reciting colonial poem' in Burmese temple |publisher=ITV |url=http://www.itv.com/news/2017-09-30/ambassador-stops-boris-johnson-quoting-colonial-poem-in-burmese-temple/ |access-date=4 November 2017}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last=Grafton-Green |first=Patrick |date=30 September 2017 |title=Boris Johnson 'caught on camera quoting Kipling poem in Burmese temple' |work=Evening Standard |url=https://www.standard.co.uk/news/politics/boris-johnson-caught-on-camera-quoting-kipling-poem-in-burmese-temple-a3647431.html |access-date=30 September 2017}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last=Booth |first=Robert |date=30 September 2017 |title=Boris Johnson caught on camera reciting Kipling in Myanmar temple |work=The Guardian |url=https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2017/sep/30/boris-johnson-caught-on-camera-reciting-kipling-in-myanmar-temple |access-date=4 October 2017}}</ref> In October 2017, he faced criticism for stating the Libyan city of [[Sirte]] could become an economic success like [[Dubai]]: "all they have to do is clear the dead bodies away".<ref>{{cite news |date=4 October 2017 |title=Boris Johnson Libya 'dead bodies' comment provokes anger |work=BBC News |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-41490174 |access-date=4 October 2017}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |date=5 October 2017 |title=Is Boris Johnson really unsackable? |newspaper=[[The Economist]] |url=https://www.economist.com/britain/2017/10/05/is-boris-johnson-really-unsackable |url-status=live |url-access=subscription |access-date=5 May 2021 |archive-url=https://archive.today/2021.04.30-170216/https://www.economist.com/britain/2017/10/05/is-boris-johnson-really-unsackable |archive-date=30 April 2021}}</ref> Johnson did not condemn the actions of the Spanish government and police during the outlawed [[2017 Catalan independence referendum|Catalan independence referendum]] on 1 October 2017.<ref>{{cite news |date=2 October 2017 |title=Boris Johnson refuses to condemn police violence in Catalonia |work=The Independent |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/boris-johnson-catalonia-refused-to-condemn-840-injured-police-protest-foreign-secretary-conservative-a7978081.html}}</ref> |
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[[File:Foreign_Secretary_Boris_Johnson_visits_Japan_(35890109752).jpg|left|thumb|Johnson in [[Tokyo]], Japan, 21 July 2017]] |
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Following the [[United Kingdom general election, 2017|2017 general election]], Johnson denied media reports that he intended to challenge Theresa May for leadership of the Conservative Party.<ref>{{cite web |title=Boris Johnson denies plot to topple UK PM Theresa May – ABC News |website=ABC News |url=http://abcnews.go.com/International/wireStory/boris-johnson-denies-plot-topple-uk-pm-theresa-47965138 |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20170611110240/http://abcnews.go.com/International/wireStory/boris-johnson-denies-plot-topple-uk-pm-theresa-47965138 |archivedate=11 June 2017 |accessdate=11 June 2017 |url-status=dead}}</ref> He further denied this media speculation on 16 September 2017 as well, insisting on his Twitter page that he was "all behind Theresa for a glorious Brexit."<ref>{{cite news |author=Christopher Hope |date=16 September 2017 |title=Boris Johnson insists he is 'all behind' Theresa May for a 'glorious Brexit' as Tories hail his vision for Britain outside EU |url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2017/09/16/boris-johnson-praised-optimistic-vision-britain-outside-eu/ |accessdate=4 October 2017 |work=Daily Telegraph}}</ref> |
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In August 2017, [[Rachel Sylvester]] reported in ''The Times'' that Johnson was ineffective and incoherent on major issues like [[North Korea]] and [[Qatar]] whilst on Brexit, he appeared to have no idea of what was required. His rhetoric seemed to suggest that the UK could dictate the terms "as if it was some kind of public school game rather than a negotiation on which the future of the nation depends." Sylvester believed that both European ministers and White House officials regard him as a joke.<ref>{{cite news |author=Rachel Sylvester |date=29 August 2017 |title=Our foreign secretary is an international joke |url=https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/our-foreign-secretary-is-an-international-joke-7707q0z66 |accessdate=30 August 2017 |work=The Times}}</ref> This follows a ''[[Today (BBC Radio 4)|Today]]'' programme interview in June on the Queens speech where, asked about the Government's answer to the "burning injustices," highlighted by Theresa May when she became prime minister, he showed a lack of understanding of the issues sufficiently serious to require prompting by [[Eddie Mair]].<ref>{{cite news |date=21 June 2017 |title=Boris Johnson struggles in interview |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/av/uk-40358825/boris-johnson-struggles-in-interview |accessdate=18 September 2017 |work=BBC news}}</ref> |
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Initially favouring a less hostile approach to Russia,<ref>{{cite news |last=Webber |first=Esther |date=14 February 2018 |title=I was a fool to think we could reset relations with Russia, says Johnson |work=The Times |url=https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/i-was-a-fool-to-think-we-could-reset-relations-with-russia-says-johnson-vpm2wgr9k |access-date=2 May 2022}}</ref> Johnson soon backed a more aggressive policy towards Russia.<ref>{{cite news |date=23 July 2019 |title=The Kremlin conundrum facing Boris Johnson |work=The Times |url=https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/the-kremlin-conundrum-facing-boris-johnson-q6l336t29 |url-access=subscription |access-date=16 April 2020}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |date=24 July 2019 |title=What has Boris Johnson said about other countries and their leaders? |work=BBC News |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/world-49014791}}</ref> Following the March 2018 [[poisoning of Sergei and Yulia Skripal]] in [[Salisbury]], an act which the UK government blamed on Russia,<ref>{{cite news |date=12 March 2018 |title=PM under pressure over Russian spy case |work=BBC News |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-43367515 |access-date=28 March 2018}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |date=4 April 2018 |title=Boris Johnson accused of making misleading Russia Novichok claim in DW interview |publisher=Deutsche Welle |url=http://www.dw.com/en/boris-johnson-accused-of-making-misleading-russia-novichok-claim-in-dw-interview/a-43251856}}</ref> Johnson compared [[Vladimir Putin]]'s hosting of the [[2018 FIFA World Cup|World Cup in Russia]] to [[Adolf Hitler]]'s hosting of the [[1936 Summer Olympics|Olympic Games in Berlin]] in 1936.<ref>{{cite news |last=Wintour |first=Patrick |date=21 March 2018 |title=Boris Johnson compares Russian World Cup to Hitler's 1936 Olympics |work=The Guardian |url=https://www.theguardian.com/football/2018/mar/21/boris-johnson-compares-russian-world-cup-to-hitlers-1936-olympics |access-date=28 March 2018}}</ref> Russia's Foreign Ministry denounced Johnson's "unacceptable and unworthy" parallel towards Russia, a "nation that [[World War II casualties of the Soviet Union|lost millions of lives]] in fighting Nazism".<ref>{{cite news |last=Osborne |first=Samuel |date=21 March 2018 |title=Sergei Skripal: Chemical weapons inspectors arrive in Salisbury to investigate nerve agent attack |work=The Independent |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/crime/salisbury-chemical-weapons-inspectors-international-arrive-investigate-nerve-agent-attack-a8267546.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180619063045/https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/crime/salisbury-chemical-weapons-inspectors-international-arrive-investigate-nerve-agent-attack-a8267546.html |archive-date=19 June 2018}}</ref> Johnson described the [[Nord Stream 2]] gas pipeline from Russia to Germany as "divisive" and a "threat" that left Europe dependent on a "malign Russia" for its [[Russia in the European energy sector|energy supplies]].<ref>{{cite news |date=22 May 2018 |title=Boris Johnson joins US in criticising Russia to Germany gas pipeline |work=The Guardian |url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2018/may/22/boris-johnson-joins-us-criticising-russia-germany-gas-pipeline-nord-stream-2}}</ref> |
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[[File:Boris_Johnson_in_the_British_Virgin_Islands_after_Irma.jpg|left|thumb|Johnson visited the [[British Virgin Islands]] after [[Hurricane Irma]]]] |
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Johnson condemned the [[Rohingya genocide|persecution]] of [[Rohingya Muslims]] in Myanmar,<ref>{{cite web |date=10 February 2018 |title=Direct Cargo Flights from Dhaka: UK to lift ban shortly |url=http://www.thedailystar.net/frontpage/direct-cargo-flights-dhaka-uk-lift-ban-shortly-1532539 |access-date=22 July 2019 |work=[[The Daily Star (Bangladesh)|The Daily Star]]}}</ref> comparing the situation with the [[Palestinian refugees|displacement of Palestinians]] in 1948.<ref>{{cite web |date=9 February 2018 |title=Boris Johnson for quick repatriation of Rohingyas |url=http://www.dhakatribune.com/bangladesh/foreign-affairs/2018/02/09/boris-johnson-rohingya-crisis-humanitarian-disaster/ |access-date=22 July 2019 |work=[[Dhaka Tribune]]}}</ref> Johnson supported the [[Turkish military operation in Afrin|Turkish invasion of northern Syria]] aimed at ousting the [[People's Protection Units|Syrian Kurds]] from the enclave of [[Afrin, Syria|Afrin]].<ref>{{cite web |date=22 January 2018 |title=UK: Turkey has legitimate interest in border security |url=http://aa.com.tr/en/europe/uk-turkey-has-legitimate-interest-in-border-security/1038748 |publisher=[[Anadolu Agency]]}}</ref> |
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In an op-ed published in ''[[The Daily Telegraph]]'' in September 2017, Johnson reiterated that the UK would regain control of £350m a week after Brexit saying it would be fine thing if much of the money went on the NHS.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Johnson |first=Boris |date=15 September 2017 |title=My vision for a bold, thriving Britain enabled by Brexit |url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2017/09/15/boris-johnson-vision-bold-thriving-britain-enabled-brexit/ |access-date=18 September 2017 |work=The Telegraph |language=en-GB |issn=0307-1235}}</ref> He was subsequently criticised by Cabinet colleagues for reviving the assertion, and was accused of "clear misuse of official statistics" by the Chair of the [[UK Statistics Authority]], [[David Norgrove|Sir David Norgrove]].<ref>{{Cite news |last=Asthana |first=Anushka |date=17 September 2017 |title=Boris Johnson left isolated as row grows over £350m post-Brexit claim |url=https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2017/sep/17/boris-johnson-slapped-down-statistics-chief-fresh-350m-brexit-claim |access-date=18 September 2017 |work=The Guardian |language=en-GB |issn=0261-3077}}</ref><ref name="beebsplit2">{{Cite news |last= |first= |date= 17 September 2017|title=Brexit: Boris Johnson and stats chief in row over £350m figure |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-politics-41301049 |access-date= |website=}}</ref> The authority rejected the suggestion that it was quibbling over newspaper headlines and not Johnson's actual words.<ref name="beebsplit2" /> A few days later, on 19 September, the former Chancellor Kenneth Clarke said that Johnson would have been sacked if British politics were in a more straightforward period.<ref>{{cite news |date=19 September 2017 |title=Boris Johnson denies cabinet Brexit split |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-41316089 |accessdate=19 September 2017 |publisher=BBC News}}</ref> Immediately ahead of the party conference, noting a second Johnson speech setting out terms for Brexit even before determination by the Cabinet, Ruth Davidson called for "serious people" to take over his role, criticised his overoptimism and predicted that Britain would “look very much like it looks now” after the transitional period.<ref>{{cite news |author=Francis Elliott |date=30 September 2017 |title=Boris Johnson under fire from Ruth Davidson on eve of Tory conference |url=https://www.thetimes.co.uk/edition/news/boris-johnson-under-fire-from-ruth-davidson-on-eve-of-tory-conference-tdbtgk97c |accessdate=4 October 2017 |work=The Times |url-access=subscription}}</ref> |
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On 27 February 2018 in a leaked letter to Theresa May, Johnson suggested that Northern Ireland may have to accept border controls after Brexit and that it would not seriously affect trade, having initially said a hard border would be unthinkable. 28 February 2018 he turned again stating he would publish his 18-page letter in full online as he recommitted to ruling out a hard border after Britain left the EU.<ref>{{cite news |last=Maidment |first=Jack |date=28 February 2018 |title=Boris Johnson accuses Remainers of trying to use Irish border issue to stop the UK leaving the EU |newspaper=The Telegraph |url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/politics/2018/02/28/boris-johnson-accuses-remainers-trying-use-irish-border-issue/ |publisher= |via=www.telegraph.co.uk}}</ref> |
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In March 2018, Johnson apologised for his "inadvertent sexism" after being criticised for calling Shadow Foreign Secretary [[Emily Thornberry]] as "Lady Nugee"; Thornberry was married to [[Christopher Nugee]] but did not use his surname.<ref>{{Cite news |date=27 March 2018 |title=Speaker tells Johnson off for 'sexism' |work=BBC News |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-43557516 |access-date=27 March 2018}}</ref> In June, he was reported as having said "fuck business" when asked about corporate concerns regarding a 'hard' Brexit.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Crisp |first1=James |last2=Foster |first2=Peter |last3=Rayner |first3=Gordon |date=23 June 2018 |title=EU diplomats shocked by Boris's 'four-letter reply' to business concerns about Brexit |work=[[The Daily Telegraph]] |url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/politics/2018/06/23/eu-diplomats-shocked-boriss-four-letter-reply-business-concerns/ |url-status=live |url-access=limited |access-date=5 May 2021 |archive-url=https://archive.today/2018.06.23-084046/https://www.telegraph.co.uk/politics/2018/06/23/eu-diplomats-shocked-boriss-four-letter-reply-business-concerns/ |archive-date=23 June 2018}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |date=24 June 2018 |title=Enough already: in the national interest, we must stop a hard Brexit |work=[[The Guardian]] |url=https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2018/jun/24/tide-turning-brexit-will-of-people-boris-johnson |access-date=24 June 2018}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |date=23 June 2018 |title=EU diplomats reveal Boris Johnson said 'f**k business' over Brexit fears |work=The National |url=http://www.thenational.scot/news/16310206.EU_diplomats_reveal_Boris_Johnson_said__f__k_business__over_Brexit_fears/ |access-date=24 June 2018}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |date=26 June 2018 |title=Johnson challenged over 'Brexit expletive' |work=BBC News |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-44618154 |access-date=27 June 2018}}</ref> |
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[[File:Javad_Zarif_meeting_with_UK_foreign_minister_Boris_Johnson_in_Tehran_2017-12-09_02.jpg|thumb|Johnson meeting with Iranian foreign minister [[Mohammad Javad Zarif]] in [[Tehran]]]] |
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Johnson caused controversy on a number of occasions. Whilst visiting a temple in [[Myanmar]], formerly Burma, the British ambassador prevented him from reciting lines from Rudyard Kipling's poem [http://www.kiplingsociety.co.uk/poems_mandalay.htm "The Road to Mandalay,"] stopping him a verse before a line which refers to the [[Buddhism|Bhudda]] as a ''Bloomin' idol made o' mud''<ref>{{cite news |date=30 September 2017 |title=Ambassador stops Boris Johnson 'reciting colonial poem' in Burmese temple |url=http://www.itv.com/news/2017-09-30/ambassador-stops-boris-johnson-quoting-colonial-poem-in-burmese-temple/ |accessdate=4 November 2017}}</ref> The ambassador described the colonial era poem as "not appropriate".<ref>{{cite news |author=Patrick Grafton-Green |date=30 September 2017 |title=Boris Johnson 'caught on camera quoting Kipling poem in Burmese temple' |url=https://www.standard.co.uk/news/politics/boris-johnson-caught-on-camera-quoting-kipling-poem-in-burmese-temple-a3647431.html |accessdate=30 September 2017 |work=Evening Standard}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |author=Robert Booth |date=30 September 2017 |title=Boris Johnson caught on camera reciting Kipling in Myanmar temple |url=https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2017/sep/30/boris-johnson-caught-on-camera-reciting-kipling-in-myanmar-temple |accessdate=4 October 2017 |work=The Guardian}}</ref> While speaking at the [[Conservative Party (UK) Conference|2017 Conservative Party Conference]], Johnson caused upset by remarking that the Libyan city [[Sirte]], which had been the site of sustained conflict between the [[Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant|so-called Islamic State]] and the [[Libyan government|Libyan Government of National Accord]], could be the new [[Dubai]], adding, "all they have to do is clear the dead bodies away".<ref>{{Cite news |last= |first= |date=4 October 2017 |title=Boris Johnson Libya 'dead bodies' comment provokes anger |work= BBC News|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-41490174 |access-date=4 October 2017 }}</ref> Following his remarks several Tory MPs called for his sacking.<ref name="veconomist">{{cite news |author= |date=5 October 2017 |title=Is Boris Johnson really unsackable? |url=https://www.economist.com/news/britain/21730007-one-great-puzzles-politics-how-foreign-secretary-keeps-his-job-boris-johnson |newspaper=[[The Economist]]}}</ref> According to ''[[The Economist]]'', as Foreign Secretary Johnson “is ridiculed abroad and disliked in the Foreign Office.”<ref name="veconomist1">{{cite news |author= |date=14 October 2017 |title=Theresa May should clear out her cabinet |url=https://www.economist.com/news/leaders/21730147-purge-would-reanimate-britains-weak-and-stable-government-theresa-may-should-clear-out-her |newspaper=[[The Economist]]}}</ref> |
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Writing in the ''[[New Statesman]]'', [[Martin Fletcher]] suggested that Johnson is harming British interests abroad. Fletcher wrote that a senior European diplomat based in London said that Johnson was "not taken seriously as a foreign policy actor" and was damaging British interests. He suggested that three-fifths of the 27 EU ambassadors in London quite like Johnson but consider him ill-suited to the job, while the remaining two-fifths "positively dislike him". My interlocutors are, of course, experts in their field and fully paid-up members of the metropolitan elite. (...) I, too, am dismayed by the harm that Johnson is doing to my country and appalled by the possibility of him becoming prime minister."<ref>[https://www.newstatesman.com/politics/uk/2017/11/joke-s-over-how-boris-johnson-damaging-britain-s-global-stature The joke’s over – how Boris Johnson is damaging Britain’s global stature] ''[[New Statesman]]''</ref> |
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Johnson said that [[US recognition of Jerusalem as capital of Israel|US recognition of Jerusalem as Israel's capital]] is a "moment of opportunity" for peace.<ref>{{cite news |date=23 January 2018 |title=Boris Johnson under fire after calling Trump's Jerusalem embassy move a 'moment of opportunity' for peace |work=The Independent |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/politics/boris-johnson-trump-jerusalem-israel-palestine-embassy-decision-two-state-solution-criticism-a8174146.html}}</ref> In June 2018, Johnson accused the [[UNHRC]] of focusing disproportionately on the [[Israeli–Palestinian conflict]] and Israel's [[Israeli-occupied territories|occupation]] of the [[Palestinian territories]].<ref>{{cite news |date=18 June 2018 |title=Britain condemns 'anti-Israel bias' at UN Human Rights Council |work=[[The Times of Israel]] |url=https://www.timesofisrael.com/britain-condemns-anti-israel-bias-at-un-human-rights-council/}}</ref> |
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[[File:International_Syria_meeting_(29734397483).jpg|left|thumb|Johnson meets [[Saudi Arabia|Saudi Arabian]] Foreign Minister [[Adel al-Jubeir]]. Saudi Arabia and the United Kingdom are [[Saudi Arabia–United Kingdom relations|strategic allies]].<ref>"[https://www.reuters.com/article/us-britain-saudi/uks-may-defends-saudi-ties-as-crown-prince-gets-royal-welcome-in-london-idUSKCN1GI2ZQ UK's May defends Saudi ties as crown prince gets royal welcome in London]". Reuters. 6 March 2018.</ref>]] |
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On 1 November 2017, Johnson told the [[Foreign Affairs Select Committee]] that [[Nazanin Zaghari-Ratcliffe]], a British citizen serving a 5 year prison sentence in Iran after being arrested on holiday on suspicion of training [[BBC Persian]] employees, had been "simply teaching people journalism". Three days later, the [[High Council for Human Rights]] in Iran doubled Zaghari-Ratcliffe's sentence, using Johnson's words as evidence against her. Her family, her employer (the [[Thomson Reuters Foundation]]), and fellow politicians including Zaghari-Ratcliffe's MP [[Tulip Siddiq]], [[Shadow Foreign Secretary]] [[Emily Thornberry]] and former Conservative Foreign Secretary [[Malcolm Rifkind]] all called on Johnson to retract his words. Johnson insisted that he had been misquoted, and that nothing he had said had justified Zaghari-Ratcliffe's sentence.<ref>{{cite news |date=6 November 2017 |title=Fears for Nazanin Zaghari-Ratcliffe after Boris Johnson remark |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-41890885 |accessdate=7 November 2017 |publisher=BBC News}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last=Rawlinson |first=Kevin |date=7 November 2017 |title=Boris Johnson to call Iran in wake of comments about jailed Briton |url=https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2017/nov/07/boris-johnson-to-call-iran-in-wake-of-comments-about-jailed-briton |accessdate=7 November 2017 |work=The Guardian}}</ref> |
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In December 2017, Johnson told ''The Sunday Times'' newspaper, "I was reading [[Thucydides]]’ ''History of the Peloponnesian war''. It was obvious to me that [[Classical Athens|Athens]] and its democracy, its openness, its culture and civilisation was the analogue of the United States and the West. Russia for me was closed, nasty, militaristic and antidemocratic – like [[Sparta]]."<ref>"[http://tass.com/world/981554 UK foreign secretary compares Russia with 'closed, nasty Sparta']". TASS: Russian News Agency. 17 December 2017.</ref> |
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Secret recordings obtained by ''[[BuzzFeed News]]'' in June 2018 revealed Johnson's dissatisfaction with Prime Minister Theresa May's negotiating style, accusing her of being too collaborative with the European Union in Brexit negotiations. Comparing May's approach to that of the US President Donald Trump – who at the time was engaged in a combative trade war with the EU because it raised tariffs on metal – Johnson said: "Imagine Trump doing Brexit. He'd go in bloody hard ... There'd be all sorts of breakdowns, all sorts of chaos. Everyone would think he'd gone mad. But actually you might get somewhere. It's a very, very good thought." He also called [[Philip Hammond]] and the Treasury "the heart of Remain" and accused individuals of scaremongering over a Brexit "meltdown", saying "No panic. ''[[Pro bono publico]]'', no bloody panic. It's going to be all right in the end."<ref>{{cite news |last1=Pitas |first1=Costas |date=8 June 2018 |title=Brace for a possible 'Brexit meltdown' but don't panic, Johnson says -BuzzFeed |work=Reuters |url=https://www.reuters.com/article/uk-britain-eu-johnson/brace-for-a-possible-brexit-meltdown-but-dont-panic-johnson-says-buzzfeed-idUSKCN1J40LJ |access-date=25 August 2019}}</ref> |
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In response to the [[Turkish invasion of northern Syria]] aimed at ousting US-backed [[People's Protection Units|Syrian Kurds]] from the enclave of [[Afrin, Syria|Afrin]], Johnson said: "Watching developments in Afrin closely. Turkey is right to want to keep its borders secure."<ref>{{cite web |date=22 January 2018 |title=UK: Turkey has legitimate interest in border security |url=http://aa.com.tr/en/europe/uk-turkey-has-legitimate-interest-in-border-security/1038748 |publisher=[[Anadolu Agency]]}}</ref> |
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During trips to the United States as foreign secretary, Johnson had repeated meetings with Trump adviser and speechwriter [[Stephen Miller (political advisor)|Stephen Miller]], which were held off White House grounds and kept quiet from May. During the meetings, Miller and Johnson "swapped speech-writing ideas and tips".<ref>{{cite news |date=13 December 2019 |title=Boris and Donald: A very special relationship |work=[[Politico]] |url=https://www.politico.com/news/2019/12/12/trump-boris-johnson-relationship-083732}}</ref> |
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[[File:Secretary_Pompeo_Chats_with_NATO_Secretary_General_Stoltenberg_and_his_UK_and_Turkish_Counterparts_During_the_NATO_Ministerial_in_Brussels_(41029400304).jpg|thumb|Johnson with NATO Secretary General [[Jens Stoltenberg|Stoltenberg]] and his US and Turkish counterparts [[Mike Pompeo|Pompeo]] and [[Mevlüt Çavuşoğlu|Çavuşoğlu]], Brussels, April 2018]] |
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In March 2018, a Russian former spy, [[Sergei Skripal]], and his daughter Yulia were [[Poisoning of Sergei and Yulia Skripal|poisoned]] in [[Salisbury]], England, with a [[Novichok nerve agent]]. Most politicians believed that the Russian government was behind the attack.<ref>{{Cite news |date=12 March 2018 |title=PM under pressure over Russian spy case |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-43367515 |access-date=28 March 2018 |work=BBC News |language=en-GB}}</ref> In the aftermath of the incident, Johnson provoked controversy when he compared [[Vladimir Putin]]'s hosting of the [[2018 FIFA World Cup|World Cup in Russia]] to [[Adolf Hitler]]'s hosting of the [[Olympic Games in Berlin]] in 1936.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Wintour |first=Patrick |date=21 March 2018 |title=Boris Johnson compares Russian World Cup to Hitler's 1936 Olympics |url=https://www.theguardian.com/football/2018/mar/21/boris-johnson-compares-russian-world-cup-to-hitlers-1936-olympics |access-date=28 March 2018 |website=the Guardian |language=en}}</ref>In |
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On 20 March 2018, Johnson said in an interview with ''[[Deutsche Welle]]'' that scientists from the [[Porton Down]] laboratory were “absolutely categorical” about the Russian origin of the substance used. "I mean, I asked the guy myself," Johnson said. "I said: 'Are you sure?' And he said: 'There's no doubt.' So we have very little alternative but to take the action that we have taken."<ref>{{cite news |date=4 April 2018 |title=Boris Johnson accused of making misleading Russia Novichok claim in DW interview |url=http://www.dw.com/en/boris-johnson-accused-of-making-misleading-russia-novichok-claim-in-dw-interview/a-43251856 |agency=Deutsche Welle}}</ref> On 3 April 2018, Gary Aitkenhead, the chief executive of the Government's [[Defence Science and Technology Laboratory]] (DSTL) at Porton Down responsible for testing the substance involved in the case, said that they had been unable to verify the "precise source" of the Novichok nerve agent.<ref>"[https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/politics/labour-russia-salisbury-nerve-agent-porton-down-diane-abbot-moscow-sergei-skripal-a8287696.html Labour says it deserves 'credit' for questioning if Russia was to blame for Salisbury nerve agent]". ''The Independent.'' 4 April 2018.</ref> Labour MP [[Chris Williamson (politician)|Chris Williamson]] tweeted that Johnson had "just lied to justify our country's foreign policy."<ref>"[https://www.npr.org/sections/thetwo-way/2018/04/03/599193005/u-k-lab-says-it-doesnt-know-nerve-agent-s-precise-source-drawing-russian-riposte U.K. Lab Says It Doesn't Know Nerve Agent's 'Precise Source,']". [[National Public Radio]]. 3 April 2018.</ref> |
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In July 2018, three days after the [[Cabinet of the United Kingdom|cabinet]] had its meeting at [[Chequers]] to agree on a [[Chequers plan|Brexit strategy]],<ref>{{cite news |date=7 July 2018 |title=At-a-glance: The new UK Brexit plan agreed at Chequers |work=BBC News |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-44749993}}</ref> Johnson, along with Brexit Secretary [[David Davis (British politician)|David Davis]],<ref>{{Cite news |last=Stewart |first=Heather |date=9 July 2018 |title=Brexit secretary David Davis resigns plunging government into crisis |work=The Guardian |location=London |url=https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2018/jul/08/david-davis-resigns-as-brexit-secretary-reports-say}}</ref> resigned his post.<ref>{{Cite news |last1=Stewart |first1=Heather |last2=Crerar |first2=Pippa |last3=Sabbagh |first3=Dan |date=9 July 2018 |title=May's plan 'sticks in the throat', says Boris Johnson as he resigns over Brexit |work=The Guardian |location=London |url=https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2018/jul/09/boris-johnson-resigns-as-foreign-secretary-brexit}}</ref> |
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In March 2018, Johnson was reprimanded by Commons Speaker [[John Bercow]] for using what he called [[sexist]] language. Bercow intervened after Johnson referred to the shadow foreign secretary [[Emily Thornberry]] as Lady Nugee. Mrs Thornberry is married to High Court judge [[Sir Christopher Nugee]] – but has chosen to go by her maiden name. Bercow said it was "inappropriate and sexist" to refer to her as Lady Nugee. Johnson subsequently apologised for his "inadvertent sexism".<ref>{{Cite news |date=27 March 2018 |title=Speaker tells Johnson off for 'sexism' |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-43557516 |access-date=27 March 2018 |work=BBC News |language=en-GB}}</ref> |
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In May 2018, Johnson backed<ref>{{cite web |date=1 May 2018 |title=Boris Johnson defends Iran nuclear deal after Israeli claims |url=https://www.breakingnews.ie/world/boris-johnson-defends-iran-nuclear-deal-after-israeli-claims-840284.html |publisher=}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |last=Wintour |first=Patrick |date=9 May 2018 |title=UK will not follow Trump in ditching Iran deal, Boris Johnson vows |url=http://www.theguardian.com/world/2018/may/09/uk-will-not-follow-trump-in-ditching-iran-deal-boris-johnson-vows |website=the Guardian}}</ref><ref>https://www.chron.com/news/article/The-Latest-German-leader-argues-for-preserving-12915547.php</ref> the [[Iran nuclear deal framework]] despite [[Donald Trump]]'s withdrawal.<ref>{{cite web |title=Trump pulls US out of Iran deal: Here's what to know |url=http://www.politifact.com/truth-o-meter/article/2018/may/08/trump-withdrew-us-iran-nuclear-deal-heres-what-you/ |publisher=}}</ref> Johnson opined that the deal could bring economic benefits to the Iranian people. |
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In May 2018, Turkish President [[Recep Tayyip Erdoğan]] arrived in the United Kingdom for a three-day state visit. Erdoğan declared that the United Kingdom is "an ally and a strategic partner, but also a real friend."<ref>"[https://www.independent.co.uk/voices/president-erdogan-theresa-may-post-brexit-trade-turkey-a8351531.html Post-Brexit, the UK will need Turkey for trade – and Erdogan is using that to his advantage]". ''The Independent.'' 14 May 2018.</ref> Liberal Democrat leader [[Vincent Cable]] denounced the visit, saying that "By permitting a state visit and audience with the Queen, May and Boris Johnson are essentially rolling out the red carpet for a man with a disregard for human rights, who is responsible for alarming oppression and violence."<ref>"[https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2018/may/13/theresa-may-under-fire-human-rights-as-turkish-president-lands-in-uk Campaigners call for UK to act on rights as Turkish president arrives]". ''The Guardian.'' 13 May 2018.</ref> |
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In June 2018, Johnson praised the [[2018 North Korea–United States Singapore Summit|North Korea–United States summit]], tweeting "Welcome the news that President Trump and [[Kim Jong Un]] have held constructive talks in Singapore. The DPRK’s commitment to complete denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula is an important first step towards a stable and prosperous future."<ref>{{cite news |title=Trump-Kim summit: North Korean leader 'de-nuking the whole place', president says |url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/live/2018/jun/12/trump-kim-summit-meeting-singapore-us-president-north-korea-kim-jong-un- |accessdate=12 June 2018 |work=The Guardian|date=12 June 2018 |last1=McCarthy |first1=Tom |last2=Weaver |first2=Matthew |last3=Lyons |first3=Kate |last4=McCarthy (Now) |first4=Tom |last5=Lyons (Earlier) |first5=Kate }}</ref> |
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In June 2018, while attending an event for EU diplomats in London, Johnson was reported to have been asked about corporate concerns over a so-called hard Brexit. In response to the question, Johnson was reported to have said "Fuck business".<ref>{{cite news |date=23 June 2018 |title=EU diplomats shocked by Boris's 'four-letter reply' to business concerns about Brexit |url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/politics/2018/06/23/eu-diplomats-shocked-boriss-four-letter-reply-business-concerns/ |accessdate=24 June 2018 |work=[[The Daily Telegraph]]}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |date=24 June 2018 |title=Enough already: in the national interest, we must stop a hard Brexit |url=https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2018/jun/24/tide-turning-brexit-will-of-people-boris-johnson |accessdate=24 June 2018 |work=[[TheGuardian.com]]}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |date=23 June 2018 |title=EU diplomats reveal Boris Johnson said 'f**k business' over Brexit fears |url=http://www.thenational.scot/news/16310206.EU_diplomats_reveal_Boris_Johnson_said__f__k_business__over_Brexit_fears/ |accessdate=24 June 2018 |work=The National}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |date=26 June 2018 |title=Johnson challenged over 'Brexit expletive' |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-44618154 |access-date=27 June 2018 |work=BBC News |language=en-GB}}</ref> |
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In July 2018, three days after the [[Cabinet of the United Kingdom|cabinet]] had its meeting at [[Chequers]] to agree a Brexit strategy,<ref>{{Cite news |last= |first= |date= 7 July 2018|title=BBC – At-a-glance: The new UK Brexit plan agreed at Chequers |work= BBC News|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-44749993 }}</ref> Johnson, along with [[Brexit Secretary]] [[David Davis (British politician)|David Davis]],<ref>{{Cite news |last= |first= |date=9 July 2018 |title=Brexit secretary David Davis resigns plunging government into crisis |url=https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2018/jul/08/david-davis-resigns-as-brexit-secretary-reports-say |archive-url= |archive-date= |access-date= |work=The Guardian }}</ref> resigned their posts.<ref>{{Cite news |last= |first= |date=9 July 2018 |title=Boris Johnson resigns as foreign secretary -Senior Conservative becomes third minister to walk out over Theresa May's Brexit plan |url=https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2018/jul/09/boris-johnson-resigns-as-foreign-secretary-brexit |archive-url= |archive-date= |access-date= |work=The Guardian }}</ref> |
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=== International trips === |
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<!--{{Main|List of international trips made by Boris Johnson as Foreign Secretary}}--> |
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This is a list of international visits undertaken by Johnson while serving as the Foreign Secretary. The list includes both private travel and [[Official visit|official visits]]. The list includes only foreign travel which the Foreign Secretary made during his tenure in the position. |
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==== Summary ==== |
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{| class="wikitable sortable" |
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|+ |
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! |
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! style="width: 12%;" |Country |
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! style="width: 12%;" |Locations |
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! style="width: 59%;" |Details |
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! style="width: 17%;" |Dates |
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|- |
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|1 |
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|{{flag|Ukraine}} |
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|[[Kyiv]] |
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|Met with President [[Petro Poroshenko]], Senior Ministers and announced additional funding for a demining project. |
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|14 July 2016 |
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|- |
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|2 |
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|{{flag|Turkey}} |
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|[[Ankara]] |
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|Held high-level talks with Turkey's leaders focused on [[UK]] support in [[Syria]]. |
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|25–27 September 2016 |
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|- |
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|3 |
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|{{flag|Germany}} |
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|[[Berlin]] |
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|Met the [[German Foreign Minister]] [[Frank-Walter Steinmeier]] in Berlin. <ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.gov.uk/government/news/foreign-secretary-visit-to-germany|title=Foreign Secretary visit to Germany|website=GOV.UK|language=en|access-date=2019-08-09}}</ref> |
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|4 November 2016 |
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|- |
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| rowspan="3" |5 |
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|{{flag|Kosovo}} |
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|[[Pristina]] |
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|Addressed the [[Assembly of the Republic of Kosovo]]. <ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.gov.uk/government/news/foreign-secretary-visit-to-kosovo|title=Foreign Secretary visit to Kosovo|website=GOV.UK|language=en|access-date=2019-08-09}}</ref> |
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|10 November 2016 |
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|- |
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|{{flag|Serbia}} |
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|[[Belgrade]] |
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|Met the [[Serbian Prime Minister]] [[Aleksandar Vučić]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.gov.uk/government/news/foreign-secretary-visit-to-serbia|title=Foreign Secretary visit to Serbia|website=GOV.UK|language=en|access-date=2019-08-09}}</ref> |
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|10 November 2016 |
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|- |
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|{{flag|Czech Republic}} |
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|[[Prague]] |
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|Met with the [[Minister of Foreign Affairs (Czech Republic)|Czech Foreign Minister]] Zaoralek.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.gov.uk/government/news/foreign-secretary-in-czech-republic|title=Foreign Secretary in Czech Republic|website=GOV.UK|language=en|access-date=2019-08-09}}</ref> |
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|11 November 2016 |
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|- |
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|6 |
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|{{flag|Cyprus}} |
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|[[Nicosia]] |
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|Held talks with the [[President of Cyprus]] and the leader of the Turkish Cypriot community. <ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.gov.uk/government/news/british-foreign-secretary-on-first-official-visit-to-cyprus|title=British Foreign Secretary on first official visit to Cyprus|website=GOV.UK|language=en|access-date=2019-08-09}}</ref> |
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|29–30 November 2016 |
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|- |
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| rowspan="2" |7 |
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|{{flag|India}} |
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|[[New Delhi]] & [[Kolkata|Kalkota]] |
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|Met the [[Minister of Finance (India)|Finance Minister]] Jaitley, [[Minister of External Affairs (India)|Minister of External Affairs]] and [[Chief Minister of West Bengal]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.gov.uk/government/news/foreign-secretary-boris-johnson-visits-india--2|title=Foreign Secretary Boris Johnson visits India|website=GOV.UK|language=en|access-date=2019-08-09}}</ref> |
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|18–19 January 2017 |
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|- |
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|{{flag|Myanmar}} |
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|[[Berlin]] |
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|The first [[Foreign Secretary]] to travel to [[Myanmar|Myanmar(Burma)]] in 5 years. Met with the [[President of Myanmar|President]] and the [[State Counsellor of Myanmar]] and pro democracy leader [[Aung San Suu Kyi]]. <ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.gov.uk/government/news/foreign-secretary-to-meet-aung-san-suu-kyi-in-burma|title=Foreign Secretary to meet Aung San Suu Kyi in Burma|website=GOV.UK|date=23 January 2017 |language=en|access-date=2019-08-09}}</ref> |
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|20–21 January 2017 |
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|- |
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| rowspan="2" |8 |
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|{{flag|Gambia}} |
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|[[Berlin]] |
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|Met with [[President of Gambia|President]] [[Adama Barrow]].<ref name=":0">{{Cite web|url=https://www.gov.uk/government/news/foreign-secretary-to-visit-the-gambia-and-ghana|title=Foreign Secretary to visit The Gambia and Ghana|website=GOV.UK|language=en|access-date=2019-08-09}}</ref> |
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|14 February 2017 |
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|- |
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|{{flag|Ghana}} |
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|[[Berlin]] |
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|Met with [[President of Ghana|President]] [[Nana Akufo-Addo]]. <ref name=":0" /> |
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|15 February 2017 |
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|- |
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|9 |
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|{{flag|Egypt}} |
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|[[Berlin]] |
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|Met with [[President of Egypt|President]] [[Abdel Fattah el-Sisi]] and his counterpart [[Minister of Foreign Affairs (Egypt)|Foreign Minister]] Shoukry.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.gov.uk/government/news/foreign-secretary-to-visit-egypt|title=Foreign Secretary to visit Egypt|website=GOV.UK|language=en|access-date=2019-08-09}}</ref> |
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|25 February 2017 |
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|- |
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|10 |
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|{{flag|Belgium}} |
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|[[Brussels]] |
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|Attended the [[EU]] [[Foreign Affairs Council]]. <ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.gov.uk/government/news/foreign-secretary-at-the-foreign-affairs-council|title=Foreign Secretary at the Foreign Affairs Council|website=GOV.UK|language=en|access-date=2019-08-09}}</ref> |
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|6 March 2017 |
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|- |
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| rowspan="2" |11 |
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|{{flag|Somalia}} |
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|[[Berlin]] |
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|Met with [[President of Somalia|President]] [[Mohamed Abdullahi Mohamed]] ahead of the 2017 London Somalia Conference discussing the UK-Somalia partnership.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.gov.uk/government/news/foreign-secretary-visits-somalia--2|title=Foreign Secretary visits Somalia|website=GOV.UK|language=en|access-date=2019-08-09}}</ref> |
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|15 March 2017 |
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|- |
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|{{flag|Ethiopia}} |
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|[[Berlin]] |
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|Outlined the potential for a deeper partnership on prosperity and regional security.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.gov.uk/government/news/foreign-secretary-visits-ethiopia|title=Foreign Secretary visits Ethiopia|website=GOV.UK|language=en|access-date=2019-08-09}}</ref> |
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|16 March 2017 |
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|} |
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This list is still incomplete. |
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{{Expand section|date=June 2024}} |
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== See also == |
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* [[Premiership of Theresa May]] |
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* [[Premiership of Boris Johnson]] |
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* [[David Cameron's tenure as Foreign Secretary]] |
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==References== |
==References== |
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{{reflist}} |
{{reflist}} |
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{{Boris Johnson}} |
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[[Category:2016 establishments in the United Kingdom]] |
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[[Category:2018 disestablishments in the United Kingdom]] |
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[[Category:2016 in British politics]] |
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[[Category:2017 in British politics]] |
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[[Category:2018 in British politics]] |
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[[Category:2010s in the United Kingdom]] |
[[Category:2010s in the United Kingdom]] |
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[[Category:History of the Conservative Party (UK)]] |
[[Category:History of the Conservative Party (UK)]] |
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[[Category:History of the foreign relations of the United Kingdom]] |
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[[Category:Foreign relations of the United Kingdom]] |
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[[Category:British Secretaries of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs|Johnson]] |
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[[Category:Tenures in political office by individual|Johnson]] |
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[[Category:Boris Johnson]] |
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{{Boris Johnson}} |
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[[Category:Foreign relations of the United Kingdom]] |
Revision as of 03:53, 6 July 2024
![]() Boris Johnson in his 2016 official portrait | |
Boris Johnson's tenure as Foreign Secretary 13 July 2016 – 9 July 2018 | |
Party | Conservative |
---|---|
Nominated by | Theresa May |
Appointed by | Elizabeth II |
|
Boris Johnson served as foreign secretary from 2016 until 2018. As a member of Theresa May's government, Johnson was appointed Foreign Secretary on 13 July 2016, shortly after May became prime minister following the resignation of David Cameron. Analysts saw the appointment as a tactic to weaken Johnson politically: the new positions of "Brexit secretary" and international trade secretary left the foreign secretary as a figurehead with few powers.[1][2]
Johnson's appointment ensured he would often be out of the country and unable to organise and mobilise backbenchers against her, while forcing him to take responsibility for problems caused by withdrawing from the EU.[3][4] He held the post until he resigned on 9 July 2018 in protest at the Chequers Plan and May's approach to Brexit, and was succeeded by Jeremy Hunt. Notable events of his tenure included the response to the poisoning of Sergei and Yulia Skripal, the imprisonment of Nazanin Zaghari-Ratcliffe and support for the Saudi Arabian–led intervention in Yemen.
Appointment
After Theresa May became leader of the Conservative and Prime Minister, Johnson was appointed as Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs on 13 July 2016.[5] Johnson's appointment was criticised by some journalists and foreign politicians due to his history of controversial statements about other countries and their leaders.[6][7][8] Former Prime Minister of Sweden Carl Bildt said "I wish it was a joke", and French Foreign Minister Jean-Marc Ayrault stated: "I am not at all worried about Boris Johnson, but ... during the campaign he lied a lot to the British people and now it is he who has his back against the wall" as the UK tries to negotiate its future relationship with EU.[9] Conversely, former Prime Minister of Australia Tony Abbott welcomed the appointment and called him "a friend of Australia".[8] A senior official in the US government suggested that Johnson's appointment would push the US further towards ties with Germany at the expense of the Special Relationship with the UK.[10]
Several analysts described the appointment as a possible tactic by May to weaken Johnson politically: the new positions of "Brexit Secretary" and International Trade Secretary leave the Foreign Secretary as a figurehead with few powers,[5][11] and the appointment would ensure that Johnson would often be out of the country and unable to organise a rebel coalition, while also forcing him to take responsibility for any problems caused by withdrawing from the EU.[12][13]
Tenure
![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/4/4a/Secretary_Kerry_Poses_With_Saudi_Arabia_Foreign_Minister_Al-Jubeir%2C_British_Foreign_Secretary_Johnson_and_United_Arab_Emirates_Foreign_Minister_Al_Nahyan_in_London_%2827801916664%29.jpg/220px-thumbnail.jpg)
![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/f/fc/Boris_Johnson_and_Aung_San_Suu_Kyi_2016.jpg/220px-Boris_Johnson_and_Aung_San_Suu_Kyi_2016.jpg)
In August 2016, May called on "feuding ministers" Johnson and Liam Fox to 'stop playing games' after Fox wrote to Johnson saying that British trade could not flourish whilst future policy responsibility remained in Johnson's department.[14] His recorded message supporting Change Britain was perceived by The Guardian as putting pressure on May to speed up the exit process though the newspaper also recorded the anger of former health minister Anna Soubry at the absence of the central "£350m-a-week bonanza for the NHS" pledge -a pledge she had previously described as a lie.[15] In an article critical of Leave campaign figures, which noted his video and his lack of support for May, The Washington Post called him "bombastic".[16]
Johnson supported the Saudi Arabian-led intervention in Yemen and refused to block UK arms sales to Saudi Arabia,[17] saying there is no clear evidence of breaches of international humanitarian law by Saudi Arabia in the war in Yemen.[18] In September 2016, he was accused of blocking the UN inquiry into Saudi war crimes in Yemen.[19]
Johnson's first visit to Turkey as Foreign Secretary was somewhat tense due to his having won Douglas Murray's poetry competition about the President of Turkey, Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, four months earlier.[20] When questioned by a journalist whether he would apologise for the poem, which was published by The Spectator, Johnson dismissed the matter as "trivia".[21] Johnson pledged to help Turkey join the European Union in "any way possible" and expressed Britain’s continued support for the elected Turkish Government.[22]
![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/4/4d/Secretary_Tillerson_Meets_With_Secretary_Johnson_in_Washington_%2833210055250%29.jpg/220px-Secretary_Tillerson_Meets_With_Secretary_Johnson_in_Washington_%2833210055250%29.jpg)
Upon meeting with Australian Foreign Minister, Julie Bishop in late September 2016, Johnson reiterated his support for negotiating increased visa access between the United Kingdom and Australia, declaring it "odd" that Australians struggled harder to settle in Britain than European nations such as Slovakia.[23] In January 2017, the former government minister Lord Wallace of Saltaire said that Johnson's work on Brexit had left civil servants "in despair" and that he was "alienating other EU foreign ministers". The Foreign Office defended Johnson.[24]
In December 2016, at the Med 2 conference in Rome, Johnson said: "There are politicians who are twisting and abusing religion and different strains of the same religion in order to further their own political objectives. That's one of the biggest political problems in the whole region... That's why you've got the Saudis, Iran, everybody, moving in and puppeteering and playing proxy wars".[25] These comments were interpreted as a diplomatic gaffe in Britain as Saudi Arabia is an ally of Britain and the biggest buyer of British arms.[25][26][27] British prime minister Theresa May said that the foreign minister's comments did not represent the government's view.[28]
![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/3/39/Foreign_Secretary_Boris_Johnson_visits_Japan_%2835890109752%29.jpg/220px-Foreign_Secretary_Boris_Johnson_visits_Japan_%2835890109752%29.jpg)
Following the 2017 general election, Johnson denied media reports that he intended to challenge Theresa May for leadership of the Conservative Party.[29] He further denied this media speculation on 16 September 2017 as well, insisting on his Twitter page that he was "all behind Theresa for a glorious Brexit."[30]
In August 2017, Rachel Sylvester reported in The Times that Johnson was ineffective and incoherent on major issues like North Korea and Qatar whilst on Brexit, he appeared to have no idea of what was required. His rhetoric seemed to suggest that the UK could dictate the terms "as if it was some kind of public school game rather than a negotiation on which the future of the nation depends." Sylvester believed that both European ministers and White House officials regard him as a joke.[31] This follows a Today programme interview in June on the Queens speech where, asked about the Government's answer to the "burning injustices," highlighted by Theresa May when she became prime minister, he showed a lack of understanding of the issues sufficiently serious to require prompting by Eddie Mair.[32]
In an op-ed published in The Daily Telegraph in September 2017, Johnson reiterated that the UK would regain control of £350m a week after Brexit saying it would be fine thing if much of the money went on the NHS.[33] He was subsequently criticised by Cabinet colleagues for reviving the assertion, and was accused of "clear misuse of official statistics" by the Chair of the UK Statistics Authority, Sir David Norgrove.[34][35] The authority rejected the suggestion that it was quibbling over newspaper headlines and not Johnson's actual words.[35] A few days later, on 19 September, the former Chancellor Kenneth Clarke said that Johnson would have been sacked if British politics were in a more straightforward period.[36] Immediately ahead of the party conference, noting a second Johnson speech setting out terms for Brexit even before determination by the Cabinet, Ruth Davidson called for "serious people" to take over his role, criticised his overoptimism and predicted that Britain would “look very much like it looks now” after the transitional period.[37]
On 27 February 2018 in a leaked letter to Theresa May, Johnson suggested that Northern Ireland may have to accept border controls after Brexit and that it would not seriously affect trade, having initially said a hard border would be unthinkable. 28 February 2018 he turned again stating he would publish his 18-page letter in full online as he recommitted to ruling out a hard border after Britain left the EU.[38]
![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/1/1e/Javad_Zarif_meeting_with_UK_foreign_minister_Boris_Johnson_in_Tehran_2017-12-09_02.jpg/220px-Javad_Zarif_meeting_with_UK_foreign_minister_Boris_Johnson_in_Tehran_2017-12-09_02.jpg)
Johnson caused controversy on a number of occasions. Whilst visiting a temple in Myanmar, formerly Burma, the British ambassador prevented him from reciting lines from Rudyard Kipling's poem "The Road to Mandalay," stopping him a verse before a line which refers to the Bhudda as a Bloomin' idol made o' mud[39] The ambassador described the colonial era poem as "not appropriate".[40][41] While speaking at the 2017 Conservative Party Conference, Johnson caused upset by remarking that the Libyan city Sirte, which had been the site of sustained conflict between the so-called Islamic State and the Libyan Government of National Accord, could be the new Dubai, adding, "all they have to do is clear the dead bodies away".[42] Following his remarks several Tory MPs called for his sacking.[43] According to The Economist, as Foreign Secretary Johnson “is ridiculed abroad and disliked in the Foreign Office.”[44]
Writing in the New Statesman, Martin Fletcher suggested that Johnson is harming British interests abroad. Fletcher wrote that a senior European diplomat based in London said that Johnson was "not taken seriously as a foreign policy actor" and was damaging British interests. He suggested that three-fifths of the 27 EU ambassadors in London quite like Johnson but consider him ill-suited to the job, while the remaining two-fifths "positively dislike him". My interlocutors are, of course, experts in their field and fully paid-up members of the metropolitan elite. (...) I, too, am dismayed by the harm that Johnson is doing to my country and appalled by the possibility of him becoming prime minister."[45]
![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/6/6f/International_Syria_meeting_%2829734397483%29.jpg/220px-International_Syria_meeting_%2829734397483%29.jpg)
On 1 November 2017, Johnson told the Foreign Affairs Select Committee that Nazanin Zaghari-Ratcliffe, a British citizen serving a 5 year prison sentence in Iran after being arrested on holiday on suspicion of training BBC Persian employees, had been "simply teaching people journalism". Three days later, the High Council for Human Rights in Iran doubled Zaghari-Ratcliffe's sentence, using Johnson's words as evidence against her. Her family, her employer (the Thomson Reuters Foundation), and fellow politicians including Zaghari-Ratcliffe's MP Tulip Siddiq, Shadow Foreign Secretary Emily Thornberry and former Conservative Foreign Secretary Malcolm Rifkind all called on Johnson to retract his words. Johnson insisted that he had been misquoted, and that nothing he had said had justified Zaghari-Ratcliffe's sentence.[47][48]
In December 2017, Johnson told The Sunday Times newspaper, "I was reading Thucydides’ History of the Peloponnesian war. It was obvious to me that Athens and its democracy, its openness, its culture and civilisation was the analogue of the United States and the West. Russia for me was closed, nasty, militaristic and antidemocratic – like Sparta."[49]
In response to the Turkish invasion of northern Syria aimed at ousting US-backed Syrian Kurds from the enclave of Afrin, Johnson said: "Watching developments in Afrin closely. Turkey is right to want to keep its borders secure."[50]
![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/d/d9/Secretary_Pompeo_Chats_with_NATO_Secretary_General_Stoltenberg_and_his_UK_and_Turkish_Counterparts_During_the_NATO_Ministerial_in_Brussels_%2841029400304%29.jpg/220px-Secretary_Pompeo_Chats_with_NATO_Secretary_General_Stoltenberg_and_his_UK_and_Turkish_Counterparts_During_the_NATO_Ministerial_in_Brussels_%2841029400304%29.jpg)
In March 2018, a Russian former spy, Sergei Skripal, and his daughter Yulia were poisoned in Salisbury, England, with a Novichok nerve agent. Most politicians believed that the Russian government was behind the attack.[51] In the aftermath of the incident, Johnson provoked controversy when he compared Vladimir Putin's hosting of the World Cup in Russia to Adolf Hitler's hosting of the Olympic Games in Berlin in 1936.[52]In
On 20 March 2018, Johnson said in an interview with Deutsche Welle that scientists from the Porton Down laboratory were “absolutely categorical” about the Russian origin of the substance used. "I mean, I asked the guy myself," Johnson said. "I said: 'Are you sure?' And he said: 'There's no doubt.' So we have very little alternative but to take the action that we have taken."[53] On 3 April 2018, Gary Aitkenhead, the chief executive of the Government's Defence Science and Technology Laboratory (DSTL) at Porton Down responsible for testing the substance involved in the case, said that they had been unable to verify the "precise source" of the Novichok nerve agent.[54] Labour MP Chris Williamson tweeted that Johnson had "just lied to justify our country's foreign policy."[55]
In March 2018, Johnson was reprimanded by Commons Speaker John Bercow for using what he called sexist language. Bercow intervened after Johnson referred to the shadow foreign secretary Emily Thornberry as Lady Nugee. Mrs Thornberry is married to High Court judge Sir Christopher Nugee – but has chosen to go by her maiden name. Bercow said it was "inappropriate and sexist" to refer to her as Lady Nugee. Johnson subsequently apologised for his "inadvertent sexism".[56]
In May 2018, Johnson backed[57][58][59] the Iran nuclear deal framework despite Donald Trump's withdrawal.[60] Johnson opined that the deal could bring economic benefits to the Iranian people.
In May 2018, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan arrived in the United Kingdom for a three-day state visit. Erdoğan declared that the United Kingdom is "an ally and a strategic partner, but also a real friend."[61] Liberal Democrat leader Vincent Cable denounced the visit, saying that "By permitting a state visit and audience with the Queen, May and Boris Johnson are essentially rolling out the red carpet for a man with a disregard for human rights, who is responsible for alarming oppression and violence."[62]
In June 2018, Johnson praised the North Korea–United States summit, tweeting "Welcome the news that President Trump and Kim Jong Un have held constructive talks in Singapore. The DPRK’s commitment to complete denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula is an important first step towards a stable and prosperous future."[63]
In June 2018, while attending an event for EU diplomats in London, Johnson was reported to have been asked about corporate concerns over a so-called hard Brexit. In response to the question, Johnson was reported to have said "Fuck business".[64][65][66][67]
In July 2018, three days after the cabinet had its meeting at Chequers to agree a Brexit strategy,[68] Johnson, along with Brexit Secretary David Davis,[69] resigned their posts.[70]
International trips
This is a list of international visits undertaken by Johnson while serving as the Foreign Secretary. The list includes both private travel and official visits. The list includes only foreign travel which the Foreign Secretary made during his tenure in the position.
Summary
Country | Locations | Details | Dates | |
---|---|---|---|---|
1 | ![]() |
Kyiv | Met with President Petro Poroshenko, Senior Ministers and announced additional funding for a demining project. | 14 July 2016 |
2 | ![]() |
Ankara | Held high-level talks with Turkey's leaders focused on UK support in Syria. | 25–27 September 2016 |
3 | ![]() |
Berlin | Met the German Foreign Minister Frank-Walter Steinmeier in Berlin. [71] | 4 November 2016 |
5 | ![]() |
Pristina | Addressed the Assembly of the Republic of Kosovo. [72] | 10 November 2016 |
![]() |
Belgrade | Met the Serbian Prime Minister Aleksandar Vučić.[73] | 10 November 2016 | |
![]() |
Prague | Met with the Czech Foreign Minister Zaoralek.[74] | 11 November 2016 | |
6 | ![]() |
Nicosia | Held talks with the President of Cyprus and the leader of the Turkish Cypriot community. [75] | 29–30 November 2016 |
7 | ![]() |
New Delhi & Kalkota | Met the Finance Minister Jaitley, Minister of External Affairs and Chief Minister of West Bengal.[76] | 18–19 January 2017 |
![]() |
Berlin | The first Foreign Secretary to travel to Myanmar(Burma) in 5 years. Met with the President and the State Counsellor of Myanmar and pro democracy leader Aung San Suu Kyi. [77] | 20–21 January 2017 | |
8 | ![]() |
Berlin | Met with President Adama Barrow.[78] | 14 February 2017 |
![]() |
Berlin | Met with President Nana Akufo-Addo. [78] | 15 February 2017 | |
9 | ![]() |
Berlin | Met with President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi and his counterpart Foreign Minister Shoukry.[79] | 25 February 2017 |
10 | ![]() |
Brussels | Attended the EU Foreign Affairs Council. [80] | 6 March 2017 |
11 | ![]() |
Berlin | Met with President Mohamed Abdullahi Mohamed ahead of the 2017 London Somalia Conference discussing the UK-Somalia partnership.[81] | 15 March 2017 |
![]() |
Berlin | Outlined the potential for a deeper partnership on prosperity and regional security.[82] | 16 March 2017 |
This list is still incomplete.
![]() | This section needs expansion. You can help by adding to it. (June 2024) |
See also
References
- ^ Hutton, Robert. "Boris Johnson Appointed U.K. Foreign Secretary in May Government". Bloomberg L.P. Retrieved 13 July 2016.
- ^ Bush, Stephen (14 July 2016). "Sending Boris Johnson to the Foreign Office is bad for Britain, good for Theresa May". New Statesman. Retrieved 14 July 2016.
- ^ Hüetlin, Thomas (14 July 2016). "Boris Johnson als Außenminister: Der Prügelknabe" [Boris Johnson as Foreign Secretary: The whipping boy]. Der Spiegel (in German). Retrieved 14 July 2016.
- ^ Cassidy, John (13 July 2016). "The Huge Challenge Facing Theresa May". The New Yorker. Retrieved 14 July 2016.
- ^ a b Hutton, Robert. "Boris Johnson Appointed U.K. Foreign Secretary in May Government". Bloomberg.com. Retrieved 13 July 2016.
- ^ Patrick Wintour (13 July 2016). "Boris Johnson and diplomacy are not synonymous". The Guardian. Retrieved 14 July 2016.
- ^ "Boris Johnson is foreign secretary: The world reacts". BBC News. 14 July 2016. Retrieved 14 July 2016.
- ^ a b Bonnie Malkin; Philip Oltermann; Tom Phillips (14 July 2016). "'Maybe the Brits are just having us on': the world reacts to Boris Johnson as foreign minister". The Guardian. Retrieved 14 July 2016.
- ^ Holton, Kate; Pitas, Costas (14 July 2016). "May builds new-look Brexit cabinet to steer EU divorce". Reuters. Thomson Reuters. Retrieved 14 July 2016.
- ^ Robert Moore (14 July 2016). "Boris Johnson's appointment as Foreign Secretary has not gone down well in the United States". ITV News. Retrieved 14 July 2016.
- ^ Stephen Bush (14 July 2016). "Sending Boris Johnson to the Foreign Office is bad for Britain, good for Theresa May". New Statesman. Retrieved 14 July 2016.
- ^ Thomas Hüetlin (14 July 2016). "Boris Johnson als Außenminister: Der Prügelknabe" [Boris Johnson as Foreign Secretary: The whipping boy]. Der Spiegel (in German). Retrieved 14 July 2016.
- ^ John Cassidy (13 July 2016). "The Huge Challenge Facing Theresa May". New Yorker. Retrieved 14 July 2016.
- ^ Steven Swinford (14 August 2016). "Theresa May tells feuding ministers to 'stop playing games' and get on with the job". Daily Telegraph. Retrieved 16 August 2016.
- ^ Peter Walker and Toby Helm (11 September 2016). "Boris Johnson backs Brexit pressure campaign Change Britain". The Guardian. Retrieved 11 September 2016.
- ^ Griff Witte (17 September 2016). "What does Brexit mean? With divorce talks looming, Britain still doesn't have a clue". Washington Post. Retrieved 18 September 2016.
- ^ "Boris Johnson urged to back probe into international law violations in Yemen". The Independent. 21 September 2016.
- ^ "Boris Johnson defends UK arms sales to Saudi Arabia". The Guardian. 5 September 2016.
- ^ "Boris Johnson criticised by human rights groups after blocking inquiry into war crimes in Yemen". The Independent. 27 September 2016.
- ^ Murray, Douglas (18 May 2016). "Boris Johnson wins The Spectator's President Erdogan Offensive Poetry competition". The Spectator.
- ^ Steerpike (27 September 2016). "Boris Johnson refuses to apologise for his President Erdogan poem". The Spectator.
- ^ "Boris Johnson: UK will help Turkey join the EU". Politico. 28 September 2016.
- ^ "Julie Bishop hopes for Britain-Australia exchanges in post-Brexit deal". The Australian. 23 September 2016.
- ^ Baxter, Holly; Watts, Joe (4 January 2017). "Brexit: Former government member says Foreign Office 'in despair' over Boris Johnson". The Independent. Retrieved 4 January 2017.
- ^ a b "Boris Johnson accuses Saudi Arabia of 'playing proxy wars'". BBC News. 8 December 2016. Retrieved 4 May 2017.
- ^ "Charted: the world's biggest arms importers". 8 March 2015. Retrieved 4 May 2017.
- ^ Dominiczak, Peter (8 December 2016). "Row over Saudi Arabia comments blows open rift between Theresa May and Boris Johnson". telegraph.co.uk.
- ^ "Boris Johnson's Saudi 'proxy wars' comment 'not UK's view'". bbc.co.uk. 8 December 2016. Retrieved 4 May 2017.
- ^ "Boris Johnson denies plot to topple UK PM Theresa May – ABC News". ABC News. Archived from the original on 11 June 2017. Retrieved 11 June 2017.
- ^ Christopher Hope (16 September 2017). "Boris Johnson insists he is 'all behind' Theresa May for a 'glorious Brexit' as Tories hail his vision for Britain outside EU". Daily Telegraph. Retrieved 4 October 2017.
- ^ Rachel Sylvester (29 August 2017). "Our foreign secretary is an international joke". The Times. Retrieved 30 August 2017.
- ^ "Boris Johnson struggles in interview". BBC news. 21 June 2017. Retrieved 18 September 2017.
- ^ Johnson, Boris (15 September 2017). "My vision for a bold, thriving Britain enabled by Brexit". The Telegraph. ISSN 0307-1235. Retrieved 18 September 2017.
- ^ Asthana, Anushka (17 September 2017). "Boris Johnson left isolated as row grows over £350m post-Brexit claim". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved 18 September 2017.
- ^ a b "Brexit: Boris Johnson and stats chief in row over £350m figure". 17 September 2017.
- ^ "Boris Johnson denies cabinet Brexit split". BBC News. 19 September 2017. Retrieved 19 September 2017.
- ^ Francis Elliott (30 September 2017). "Boris Johnson under fire from Ruth Davidson on eve of Tory conference". The Times. Retrieved 4 October 2017.
- ^ Maidment, Jack (28 February 2018). "Boris Johnson accuses Remainers of trying to use Irish border issue to stop the UK leaving the EU". The Telegraph – via www.telegraph.co.uk.
- ^ "Ambassador stops Boris Johnson 'reciting colonial poem' in Burmese temple". 30 September 2017. Retrieved 4 November 2017.
- ^ Patrick Grafton-Green (30 September 2017). "Boris Johnson 'caught on camera quoting Kipling poem in Burmese temple'". Evening Standard. Retrieved 30 September 2017.
- ^ Robert Booth (30 September 2017). "Boris Johnson caught on camera reciting Kipling in Myanmar temple". The Guardian. Retrieved 4 October 2017.
- ^ "Boris Johnson Libya 'dead bodies' comment provokes anger". BBC News. 4 October 2017. Retrieved 4 October 2017.
- ^ "Is Boris Johnson really unsackable?". The Economist. 5 October 2017.
- ^ "Theresa May should clear out her cabinet". The Economist. 14 October 2017.
- ^ The joke’s over – how Boris Johnson is damaging Britain’s global stature New Statesman
- ^ "UK's May defends Saudi ties as crown prince gets royal welcome in London". Reuters. 6 March 2018.
- ^ "Fears for Nazanin Zaghari-Ratcliffe after Boris Johnson remark". BBC News. 6 November 2017. Retrieved 7 November 2017.
- ^ Rawlinson, Kevin (7 November 2017). "Boris Johnson to call Iran in wake of comments about jailed Briton". The Guardian. Retrieved 7 November 2017.
- ^ "UK foreign secretary compares Russia with 'closed, nasty Sparta'". TASS: Russian News Agency. 17 December 2017.
- ^ "UK: Turkey has legitimate interest in border security". Anadolu Agency. 22 January 2018.
- ^ "PM under pressure over Russian spy case". BBC News. 12 March 2018. Retrieved 28 March 2018.
- ^ Wintour, Patrick (21 March 2018). "Boris Johnson compares Russian World Cup to Hitler's 1936 Olympics". the Guardian. Retrieved 28 March 2018.
- ^ "Boris Johnson accused of making misleading Russia Novichok claim in DW interview". Deutsche Welle. 4 April 2018.
- ^ "Labour says it deserves 'credit' for questioning if Russia was to blame for Salisbury nerve agent". The Independent. 4 April 2018.
- ^ "U.K. Lab Says It Doesn't Know Nerve Agent's 'Precise Source,'". National Public Radio. 3 April 2018.
- ^ "Speaker tells Johnson off for 'sexism'". BBC News. 27 March 2018. Retrieved 27 March 2018.
- ^ "Boris Johnson defends Iran nuclear deal after Israeli claims". 1 May 2018.
- ^ Wintour, Patrick (9 May 2018). "UK will not follow Trump in ditching Iran deal, Boris Johnson vows". the Guardian.
- ^ https://www.chron.com/news/article/The-Latest-German-leader-argues-for-preserving-12915547.php
- ^ "Trump pulls US out of Iran deal: Here's what to know".
- ^ "Post-Brexit, the UK will need Turkey for trade – and Erdogan is using that to his advantage". The Independent. 14 May 2018.
- ^ "Campaigners call for UK to act on rights as Turkish president arrives". The Guardian. 13 May 2018.
- ^ McCarthy, Tom; Weaver, Matthew; Lyons, Kate; McCarthy (Now), Tom; Lyons (Earlier), Kate (12 June 2018). "Trump-Kim summit: North Korean leader 'de-nuking the whole place', president says". The Guardian. Retrieved 12 June 2018.
- ^ "EU diplomats shocked by Boris's 'four-letter reply' to business concerns about Brexit". The Daily Telegraph. 23 June 2018. Retrieved 24 June 2018.
- ^ "Enough already: in the national interest, we must stop a hard Brexit". TheGuardian.com. 24 June 2018. Retrieved 24 June 2018.
- ^ "EU diplomats reveal Boris Johnson said 'f**k business' over Brexit fears". The National. 23 June 2018. Retrieved 24 June 2018.
- ^ "Johnson challenged over 'Brexit expletive'". BBC News. 26 June 2018. Retrieved 27 June 2018.
- ^ "BBC – At-a-glance: The new UK Brexit plan agreed at Chequers". BBC News. 7 July 2018.
- ^ "Brexit secretary David Davis resigns plunging government into crisis". The Guardian. 9 July 2018.
- ^ "Boris Johnson resigns as foreign secretary -Senior Conservative becomes third minister to walk out over Theresa May's Brexit plan". The Guardian. 9 July 2018.
- ^ "Foreign Secretary visit to Germany". GOV.UK. Retrieved 2019-08-09.
- ^ "Foreign Secretary visit to Kosovo". GOV.UK. Retrieved 2019-08-09.
- ^ "Foreign Secretary visit to Serbia". GOV.UK. Retrieved 2019-08-09.
- ^ "Foreign Secretary in Czech Republic". GOV.UK. Retrieved 2019-08-09.
- ^ "British Foreign Secretary on first official visit to Cyprus". GOV.UK. Retrieved 2019-08-09.
- ^ "Foreign Secretary Boris Johnson visits India". GOV.UK. Retrieved 2019-08-09.
- ^ "Foreign Secretary to meet Aung San Suu Kyi in Burma". GOV.UK. 23 January 2017. Retrieved 2019-08-09.
- ^ a b "Foreign Secretary to visit The Gambia and Ghana". GOV.UK. Retrieved 2019-08-09.
- ^ "Foreign Secretary to visit Egypt". GOV.UK. Retrieved 2019-08-09.
- ^ "Foreign Secretary at the Foreign Affairs Council". GOV.UK. Retrieved 2019-08-09.
- ^ "Foreign Secretary visits Somalia". GOV.UK. Retrieved 2019-08-09.
- ^ "Foreign Secretary visits Ethiopia". GOV.UK. Retrieved 2019-08-09.
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