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International relations of Wales
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International relations of Wales
The objectives of the international relations of Wales are the promotion of Wales and Welsh interests abroad, the development of the Welsh economy and the positioning of Wales as a globally-responsible nation. Responsibility for Welsh international relations currently lies with the First Minister of Wales, but the responsibility can also be delegated. Relations are primarily undertaken through a network of 21 international offices operated by the Welsh Government, with representation in London, Belgium, Canada, China, Ireland, France, Germany, India, Japan, Qatar, the United Arab Emirates and in five offices across the United States. Additionally the Welsh government has signed agreements or memoranda of understanding with other countries and regions including the Basque Country and the Ōita Prefecture in Japan. This permanent representation is supplemented by overseas visits undertaken by the First Minister, and other officials, often timed to coincide with Saint David's Day, the feast day of the Welsh patron saint, and by an annual focus on a specific nation, "Wales in Germany" in 2021, "Wales in Canada" in 2022 and "Wales in France" in 2023.
Under the terms of Welsh devolution in the 20th and 21st centuries, law-making powers covering a wide range of domestic policy areas have been devolved to the Welsh government. Responsibility for other policy areas is retained by the Government of the United Kingdom. These are known as reserved matters and include the conduct of foreign policy, declarations of war and the making of international treaties. Wales, as a country and major economic unit, nevertheless conducts international relations with many other countries, parliaments, regions and supra-national bodies such as the European Union.
The conduct of foreign policy is not devolved to Wales and is managed by the UK Government under the devolution settlement. Nonetheless, the Welsh government has an international strategy. Eluned Morgan, Baroness Morgan of Ely was appointed international relations minister in 2018, with responsibility for the international relations portfolio moving to the first minister of Wales, Mark Drakeford, in 2020, and remaining with the first minister under Vaughan Gething. The Senedd also has a small International Relations Team (IRT) which supports the Presiding Officers, Senedd Commissioners and Members of the Senedd in international activities.
In 1999 the Senedd approved a motion signed by the four party leaders to apply for Commonwealth Parliamentary Association (CPA) and Wales formally joined the CPA at a General Assembly meeting in Trinidad later that year.
In 2022, Laura McAllister, Professor of Public Policy at the University of Cardiff, argued that increasing globalisation and the growth of Welsh exports would enable "a relatively small country such as Wales [to] now be more assertive" in the international arena.
The International Strategy was set out in January 2020 by the then Minister for International Relations and Welsh Language. The strategy is to last 5 years and includes the following aims:
Wales is represented in the following international intergovernmental organisations:
Within the United Kingdom, Wales is represented on the following bodies:
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International relations of Wales
The objectives of the international relations of Wales are the promotion of Wales and Welsh interests abroad, the development of the Welsh economy and the positioning of Wales as a globally-responsible nation. Responsibility for Welsh international relations currently lies with the First Minister of Wales, but the responsibility can also be delegated. Relations are primarily undertaken through a network of 21 international offices operated by the Welsh Government, with representation in London, Belgium, Canada, China, Ireland, France, Germany, India, Japan, Qatar, the United Arab Emirates and in five offices across the United States. Additionally the Welsh government has signed agreements or memoranda of understanding with other countries and regions including the Basque Country and the Ōita Prefecture in Japan. This permanent representation is supplemented by overseas visits undertaken by the First Minister, and other officials, often timed to coincide with Saint David's Day, the feast day of the Welsh patron saint, and by an annual focus on a specific nation, "Wales in Germany" in 2021, "Wales in Canada" in 2022 and "Wales in France" in 2023.
Under the terms of Welsh devolution in the 20th and 21st centuries, law-making powers covering a wide range of domestic policy areas have been devolved to the Welsh government. Responsibility for other policy areas is retained by the Government of the United Kingdom. These are known as reserved matters and include the conduct of foreign policy, declarations of war and the making of international treaties. Wales, as a country and major economic unit, nevertheless conducts international relations with many other countries, parliaments, regions and supra-national bodies such as the European Union.
The conduct of foreign policy is not devolved to Wales and is managed by the UK Government under the devolution settlement. Nonetheless, the Welsh government has an international strategy. Eluned Morgan, Baroness Morgan of Ely was appointed international relations minister in 2018, with responsibility for the international relations portfolio moving to the first minister of Wales, Mark Drakeford, in 2020, and remaining with the first minister under Vaughan Gething. The Senedd also has a small International Relations Team (IRT) which supports the Presiding Officers, Senedd Commissioners and Members of the Senedd in international activities.
In 1999 the Senedd approved a motion signed by the four party leaders to apply for Commonwealth Parliamentary Association (CPA) and Wales formally joined the CPA at a General Assembly meeting in Trinidad later that year.
In 2022, Laura McAllister, Professor of Public Policy at the University of Cardiff, argued that increasing globalisation and the growth of Welsh exports would enable "a relatively small country such as Wales [to] now be more assertive" in the international arena.
The International Strategy was set out in January 2020 by the then Minister for International Relations and Welsh Language. The strategy is to last 5 years and includes the following aims:
Wales is represented in the following international intergovernmental organisations:
Within the United Kingdom, Wales is represented on the following bodies: