Aliona Hlivco Speaks on Future of UK Defence and Development
In recognition of Armed Forces Day, St James’s Foreign Policy Group Founder and CEO, Aliona Hlivco, took part in a high-level panel discussion at the Coalition for Global Prosperity exploring the future of UK defence and international development. The event brought together senior voices from government, military, and policy to examine how these two pillars of foreign policy must evolve in tandem to meet the challenges of a rapidly changing global landscape.
Held on Wednesday, the panel was chaired by Lt Col Dean Canham OBE and featured The Rt Hon Tobias Ellwood VR, Alex Ballinger MP, David Reed MP, and Aliona Hlivco. The discussion centred on the strategic alignment of defence and aid — especially as the UK faces rising global threats, fiscal constraints, and shifting public expectations around international engagement.
Hlivco emphasised that maintaining a robust international aid programme is essential not just for moral leadership, but for preserving the UK’s global standing. At a time when many countries are retreating from their development commitments, she warned that reducing aid — even in favour of strategically important defence spending — risks undermining Britain’s influence on the world stage.
“If the UK wants to remain a serious global actor, it cannot afford to scale back its international aid,” Hlivco said. “Our soft power is built on our credibility, consistency, and commitment to global partnerships — and in a world where others are stepping back, we should be stepping forward.”
The conversation touched on lessons from Afghanistan, the imperative of long-term thinking in Ukraine’s reconstruction, and the responsibility to ensure both aid and defence spending reflect British interests and values.
The event served as a timely reminder that security and prosperity are interlinked — and that a smarter, more integrated foreign policy is essential in building a safer world.
