The Foreign Office will add more than 140 staff to its Asian diplomatic
postings, mainly in China and India. But it is not just concentrating on the
world’s most populous countries.
Mr Hague added: “Too often in the past there has been a tendency to
overlook smaller nations in favour of the large.” This was a hint that
economies such as Singapore, Vietnam, Thailand and Indonesia were also on
the radar screen for British diplomatic expansion.
To fund eight new embassies, six consulates and to send diplomatic staff to
more 20 countries the Foreign Office will be closing some small consulates
in Europe.
Cutbacks are also expected to be made in Afghanistan and Iraq once conditions
allow.
A former employee of the British High Commission in Singapore said: “This
is a part of a strategic shift away from Europe to Asia where Britain’s
long-term interests lie, so this was to be expected.
“There was previously talk of diplomats becoming more mobile and moving
across the world to hot spots and where tourist numbers are high, without
the need for an embassy. That would make more sense to me, so diplomats can
move where they are most needed.”
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