Editing Conservative Party (UK) (section)

=== Foreign policy ===
[[File:Reagan's - Thatcher's c50515-16.jpg|thumb|Margaret Thatcher (second left), [[Ronald Reagan]] (far left) and their spouses in 1988. Thatcher and Reagan developed a close relationship against the Soviet Union.]]
For much of the 20th century, the Conservative Party took a broadly [[Atlanticist]] stance in relations with the [[United States]], Members of [[European Union|EU]] and [[NATO]], favouring close ties with the United States and similarly aligned nations such as [[Canada]], [[Australia]], [[New Zealand]], [[South Africa]], [[South Korea|Korea]], [[Taiwan]], [[Singapore]] and [[Japan]]. The Conservatives have generally favoured a diverse range of international alliances, ranging from the [[North Atlantic Treaty Organization]] (NATO) to the [[Commonwealth of Nations]]. The Conservatives have proposed a Pan-African [[Free Trade Area]], which it says could help [[entrepreneurial]] dynamism of African people.<ref name="cameronbbc">{{cite news|last = Robbins|first = James|title = Cameron's Britain: Foreign policy|work = BBC|date = 26 June 2008|url = http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk_politics/7464427.stm|access-date = 1 June 2009|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20090212231621/http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk_politics/7464427.stm|archive-date = 12 February 2009|url-status = live}}</ref> The Conservatives pledged to increase aid spending to 0.7% of national income by 2013.<ref name="cameronbbc" /> They met this pledge in 2014, when spending on aid reached 0.72% of GDP and the commitment was enshrined in UK law in 2015.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.theguardian.com/global-development/2015/mar/09/uk-passes-bill-law-aid-target-percentage-income|title=UK passes bill to honour pledge of 0.7% foreign aid target|first=Mark|last=Anderson|date=9 March 2015|newspaper=[[The Guardian]]|access-date=13 July 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150723073216/http://www.theguardian.com/global-development/2015/mar/09/uk-passes-bill-law-aid-target-percentage-income|archive-date=23 July 2015|url-status=live}}</ref>

Close [[United Kingdom-United States relations|Anglo-American Relationship]] have been an element of Conservative foreign policy since the Second World War. Though the Anglo–American relationship in foreign affairs has often been termed a '[[Special Relationship]]', a term coined by [[Winston Churchill]], this has often been observed most clearly where leaders in each country are of a similar political stripe. [[David Cameron]] had sought to distance himself from former [[President of United States|US President]] [[George W. Bush|Bush]] and his [[neoconservative]] foreign policy.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2006/sep/11/conservatives.uk1 |title=Cameron: I'm no neo-con |access-date=20 April 2007 |first=Matthew |last=Tempest |date=11 September 2006 |work=The Guardian |location=London |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140716205435/http://www.theguardian.com/politics/2006/sep/11/conservatives.uk1 |archive-date=16 July 2014 |url-status=live }}</ref> Despite traditional links between the UK Conservatives and US [[Republican Party (United States)|Republicans]], London Mayor [[Boris Johnson]], a Conservative, endorsed [[Barack Obama]] in the 2008 election.<ref>{{cite news|last=Mulholland|first=Hélène|url=https://www.theguardian.com/global/2008/aug/01/boris.barackobama|title=Barack Obama gets backing from Boris Johnson|date=1 August 2008|work=The Guardian|language=en-GB|issn=0261-3077|access-date=28 March 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190720095111/https://www.theguardian.com/global/2008/aug/01/boris.barackobama|archive-date=20 July 2019|url-status=live}}</ref> However, after becoming Prime Minister, Johnson developed a close relationship with [[Republican Party (United States)|Republican]] President [[Donald Trump]].<ref>{{cite news |work=[[Politico]] |date=24 May 2016 |url=http://www.politico.eu/article/donald-trump-boris-johnson-kiss-mural-brexit-referendum-leave-remain/ |first=Vince |last=Chadwick |title=Donald Trump and Boris Johnson kiss and make Out |access-date=22 August 2020 |archive-date=6 February 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210206063613/https://www.politico.eu/article/donald-trump-boris-johnson-kiss-mural-brexit-referendum-leave-remain/ |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite news |work=The Guardian |location=London |first=Roy |last=Greenslade |author-link=Roy Greenslade |url=https://www.theguardian.com/media/greenslade/2016/jun/29/new-york-post-compares-boris-johnson-to-donald-trump |date=29 June 2016 |title=New York Post compares Boris Johnson to Donald Trump |access-date=22 August 2020 |archive-date=6 February 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210206063615/https://www.theguardian.com/media/greenslade/2016/jun/29/new-york-post-compares-boris-johnson-to-donald-trump |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite news |work=[[Newsweek]] |url=http://www.newsweek.com/boris-johnson-donald-trump-eu-brexit-439957 |agency=Reuters |title=London mayor Boris Johnson eyes Trump-style insurgency in EU battle |date=23 March 2016 |access-date=22 August 2020 |archive-date=6 February 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210206063620/https://www.newsweek.com/boris-johnson-donald-trump-eu-brexit-439957 |url-status=live }}</ref> This has been described as a reestablishing of the ''Special Relationship'' with the United States following Britain's withdraw from the [[European Union]], as well as returning to the links between the Conservatives and Republican Party.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.politico.com/news/2019/12/12/trump-boris-johnson-relationship-083732|title=Boris and Donald: A very special relationship|website=Politico|date=12 December 2019 |access-date=22 August 2020|archive-date=8 June 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200608220755/https://www.politico.com/news/2019/12/12/trump-boris-johnson-relationship-083732|url-status=live}}</ref> Beyond relations with the United States, the Commonwealth and the [[European Union|EU]], the Conservative Party has generally supported a pro free-trade foreign policy within the mainstream of international affairs.

Although stances have changed with successive leadership, the modern Conservative Party generally supports cooperation and maintaining friendly relations with [[Israel]]. Historic Conservative statesmen such as [[Arthur Balfour]] and [[Winston Churchill]] supported the idea of national home for the Jewish people. Under [[Margaret Thatcher]] Conservative support for Israel was seen to crystallise.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://fathomjournal.org/the-new-special-relationship-the-british-conservative-party-and-israel/|title=The New Special Relationship: The British Conservative Party and Israel|website=Fathom|access-date=22 August 2020|archive-date=4 December 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201204144021/https://fathomjournal.org/the-new-special-relationship-the-british-conservative-party-and-israel/|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.bod.org.uk/political-party-manifestos-where-they-stand-on-issues-of-jewish-interest/|title=Board of Deputies – Political party manifestos- where they stand on issues of Jewish interest|website=www.bod.org.uk|access-date=22 August 2020|archive-date=27 October 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201027120032/https://www.bod.org.uk/political-party-manifestos-where-they-stand-on-issues-of-jewish-interest/|url-status=live}}</ref> Support for Israel has increased under the leaderships of [[Theresa May]] and [[Boris Johnson]], with prominent Conservative figures within the May and Johnson ministries strongly endorsing Israel. In 2016, Theresa May publicly rebutted statements made by US Secretary of State [[John Kerry]] over the composition of the Israeli government.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.nbcnews.com/news/world/britain-s-pm-theresa-may-rebukes-john-kerry-israel-attack-n701416|title=Britain's PM rebukes John Kerry for his 'attack' on Israel|work=NBC News|access-date=22 August 2020|archive-date=8 November 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201108114427/https://www.nbcnews.com/news/world/britain-s-pm-theresa-may-rebukes-john-kerry-israel-attack-n701416|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/politics/israel-latest-donald-trump-theresa-may-john-kerry-barack-obama-jewish-settlements-middle-east-a7501496.html|title=Theresa May appears to align herself with Donald Trump on Israel|date=29 December 2016|work=The Independent|access-date=22 August 2020|archive-date=8 November 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201108100605/http://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/politics/israel-latest-donald-trump-theresa-may-john-kerry-barack-obama-jewish-settlements-middle-east-a7501496.html|url-status=live}}</ref> In 2018 the party pledged to proscribe all wings of the Lebanese-based militant group [[Hezbollah]] and this was adopted as a UK-wide policy in 2019.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://jewishnews.timesofisrael.com/sajid-javid-set-to-announce-full-ban-of-hezbollah-at-party-conference/|title=Sajid Javid set to announce full ban of Hezbollah at party conference|website=jewishnews.timesofisrael.com|access-date=22 August 2020|archive-date=9 November 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201109043413/https://jewishnews.timesofisrael.com/sajid-javid-set-to-announce-full-ban-of-hezbollah-at-party-conference/|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.theguardian.com/world/2019/feb/25/uk-outlaw-ban-hezbollah-political-wing-lebanese|title=UK to outlaw Hezbollah's political wing|date=25 February 2019|work=The Guardian|access-date=20 October 2020|archive-date=8 November 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201108011320/https://www.theguardian.com/world/2019/feb/25/uk-outlaw-ban-hezbollah-political-wing-lebanese|url-status=live}}</ref> In 2019, the Conservative government under Boris Johnson announced plans to stop the influence of the [[Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions]] movement on local politics which included prohibiting local councils from boycotting Israeli products.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.haaretz.com/world-news/europe/.premium-u-k-s-conservative-party-vows-to-ban-councils-from-boycotting-israeli-products-1.8168796|title=U.K.'s Conservative Party vows to ban councils from boycotting Israeli products|website=Haaretz|access-date=22 August 2020|archive-date=11 June 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210611191957/https://www.haaretz.com/world-news/europe/.premium-u-k-s-conservative-party-vows-to-ban-councils-from-boycotting-israeli-products-1.8168796|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2019/12/16/world/europe/britain-bds-boycott-israel.html|title=U.K. Plans to Pass Anti-B.D.S. Law|first=Benjamin|last=Mueller|date=16 December 2019|work=The New York Times|access-date=22 August 2020|archive-date=24 July 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200724183058/https://www.nytimes.com/2019/12/16/world/europe/britain-bds-boycott-israel.html|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/politics/2019/11/16/tories-ban-councils-boycotting-products-israel-manifesto-plans/|title=Tories to ban councils from boycotting products from Israel under manifesto plans|first=Tony|last=Diver|date=16 November 2019|work=The Daily Telegraph|access-date=22 August 2020|archive-date=31 October 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201031104444/https://www.telegraph.co.uk/politics/2019/11/16/tories-ban-councils-boycotting-products-israel-manifesto-plans/|url-status=live}}</ref>

==== Defence policy ====
After the [[September 11 attacks|terrorist attacks of 11 September 2001]], the Conservative Party supported the coalition military action in [[Afghanistan]]. The Conservative Party believed that success in Afghanistan would be defined in terms of the Afghans achieving the capability to maintain their own internal and external security. They have repeatedly criticised the former [[Labour Party (UK)|Labour Government]] for failing to equip British Forces adequately in the earlier days on the campaign—especially highlighting the shortage of helicopters for British Forces resulting from [[Gordon Brown]]'s £1.4bn cut to the helicopter budget in 2004.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Fox |first=Liam |date=2009-12-17 |title=Labour's dangerous defence cuts |url=https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2009/dec/17/defence-cuts-bob-ainsworth-afghan |access-date=2024-04-11 |work=The Guardian |language=en-GB |issn=0261-3077}}</ref>

The Conservative Party believes that in the 21st century defence and security are interlinked. It has pledged to break away from holding a traditional [[Strategic Defence Review]] and committed to carrying out a more comprehensive [[Strategic Defence and Security Review 2010|Strategic Defence and Security Review]] (SDSR).<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.conservatives.com/News/Speeches/2009/09/Liam_Fox_If_Afghanistan_will_be_lost_it_will_be_lost_at_home.aspx |title=The Strategic Defence and Security Review: A Conservative View of Defence and Future Challenges |publisher=Royal United Services Institute |date=8 February 2010 |access-date=8 February 2010 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110622051413/https://www.conservatives.com/News/Speeches/2009/09/Liam_Fox_If_Afghanistan_will_be_lost_it_will_be_lost_at_home.aspx |archive-date=22 June 2011 }}</ref> As well as an SDSR, the Conservative Party pledged in 2010 to undertake a fundamental and far-reaching review of the procurement process and how defence equipment is provided in Britain, and to increase Britain's share of the global defence market as Government policy.<ref>{{Cite web |date=11 May 2017 |title=UK Conservatives to increase defense spending |url=https://www.politico.eu/article/uk-conservatives-to-increase-defense-spending/ |access-date=21 September 2023 |website=Politico |language=en |archive-date=2 October 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231002220320/https://www.politico.eu/article/uk-conservatives-to-increase-defense-spending/ |url-status=live }}</ref>

The Conservative Party upholds the view that [[NATO]] remains and should remain the most important security alliance for the United Kingdom.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.conservatives.com/News/Speeches/2010/02/Liam_Fox_EU_should_only_act_when_NATO_cannot.aspx |title=Liam Fox: The EU should only act when NATO cannot |date=11 February 2010 |access-date=20 April 2007 |publisher=Conservative Party |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100401061150/http://www.conservatives.com/News/Speeches/2010/02/Liam_Fox_EU_should_only_act_when_NATO_cannot.aspx |archive-date=1 April 2010 }}</ref> It has advocated for the creation of a fairer funding mechanism for NATO's expeditionary operations and called for all NATO countries to meet their required defence spending 2% of GDP. Some Conservatives believe that there is scope for expanding NATO's Article V to include new threats such as [[cybersecurity]].

The Conservative Party aims to build enhanced bilateral defence relations with key European partners and believes that it is in Britain's national interest to cooperate fully with all its European neighbours. It has pledged to ensure that any EU military capability must supplement and not supplant British national defence and [[NATO]], and that it is not in the British interest to hand over security to any supranational body.<ref name="autogenerated1">{{cite web |url=http://www.conservatives.com/News/Speeches/2010/02/Liam_Fox_EU_should_only_act_when_NATO_cannot.aspx |title=The EU should only act when NATO cannot |date=11 February 2010 |last=Fox |first=Liam |access-date=4 March 2010 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100401061150/http://www.conservatives.com/News/Speeches/2010/02/Liam_Fox_EU_should_only_act_when_NATO_cannot.aspx |archive-date=1 April 2010 }}</ref>

The Conservatives see it as a priority to encourage all members of the European Union to do more in terms of a commitment to European security at home and abroad. Regarding the defence role of the European Union, the Conservatives pledged to re-examine some of Britain's EU Defence commitments to determine their practicality and utility; specifically, to reassess UK participation provisions like Permanent Structured Cooperation, the [[European Defence Agency]] and EU Battlegroups to determine if there is any value in Britain's participation.

The Conservatives support the UK's possession of nuclear weapons through the [[Trident (UK nuclear programme)|Trident nuclear programme]].<ref name="autogenerated1" />

==== European Union policy ====
No subject has proved more divisive in the Conservative Party in recent history than the role of the United Kingdom within the European Union. Though the principal architect of the UK's entry into the [[European Communities]] (which became the European Union) was Conservative Prime Minister [[Edward Heath]], most contemporary Conservative opinion is opposed to closer economic and particularly political union with the EU. This is a noticeable shift in British politics, as in the 1960s and 1970s the Conservatives were more pro-Europe than the Labour Party: for example, in the 1971 House of Commons vote on whether the UK should join the European Economic Community, only 39 of the then 330 Conservative MPs were opposed.<ref name=georgiou>{{cite journal |last1=Georgiou |first1=Christakis |date=April 2017 |title=British Capitalism and European Unification, from Ottawa to the Brexit Referendum |journal=[[Historical Materialism (journal)|Historical Materialism]] |volume=25 |issue=1 |pages=90–129 |doi=10.1163/1569206X-12341511 |doi-access=free }}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last1=Lewis |first1=Anthony |author-link1=Anthony Lewis |date=29 October 1971 |title=Commons Votes, 356 to 242, for Britain's Membership in the European Market |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1971/10/29/archives/commons-votes-356-to-244-for-britains-membership-in-the-european.html |work=[[The New York Times]] |page=1 |access-date=14 September 2019 |archive-date=8 November 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211108140603/https://www.nytimes.com/1971/10/29/archives/commons-votes-356-to-244-for-britains-membership-in-the-european.html |url-status=live }}</ref>

The Conservative Party has members with varying opinions of the EU, with [[pro-European]] Conservatives joining the affiliate [[Conservative Group for Europe]], while some Eurosceptics left the party to join the [[United Kingdom Independence Party]]. Whilst the vast majority of Conservatives in recent decades have been Eurosceptics, views among this group regarding the UK's relationship with the EU have been polarised between moderate, soft Eurosceptics who support continued British membership but oppose further harmonisation of regulations affecting business and accept participation in a [[multi-speed Europe]], and a more radical, economically libertarian faction who oppose policy initiatives from Brussels, support the rolling back of integration measures from the Maastricht Treaty onwards, and have become increasingly supportive of a complete withdrawal.<ref name=georgiou />