BETTER WORLD, BETTER BRITAIN

The Foreign & Commonwealth Office’s slogan, recognises that, in our interdependent world, we can no longer have environmental, physical or economic security in the UK without promoting it overseas. A better world is necessary for a better Britain.

This, and the FCO’s more detailed objectives are achieved through the work of policy makers in London and the work of diplomatic missions overseas.

ACTIVE DIPLOMACY FOR A CHANGING WORLD: The FCO’S International Priorities are as follows –

A flexible Global Network serving the whole of the British Government.

Three Essential Services that:
• Support the British economy
• Support British nationals abroad
• Support managed migration for Britain.

Four new Policy Goals to:
• Counter terrorism, weapons proliferation and their causes
• Prevent and resolve conflict
• Promote a low carbon, high growth, global economy
• Develop effective international institutions, above all the UN and EU

The High Commission in Belize provides Consular assistance to British Citizens both directly and through its network of Wardens around the country.

The office also oversees the award of scholarships under the Chevening Programme, and funds small focussed local projects that are in line with the four policy goals above.

The High Commission also gives support and advice to the regional DFID (Department for International Development) office in Barbados in its assessment and administration of the Commonwealth Debt Initiative Fund.

The UK has a permanent military presence in Belize in the form of BATSUB: The British Army Training Support Unit (Belize).  BATSUB provides specialist training for over 4,000 British troops per year and offers specialist support to the Belize Defence Force (BDF) and other agencies when required.

In Belize, the UK plays an active and constructive role in efforts to resolve peacefully the border differendum with Guatemala and to generate contributions to an international settlement fund following the resolution of the dispute.

The UK has been a key contributor of funds to the OAS (Organization of American States) office in the Adjacency Zone through its Global Conflict Prevention Pool.