Just under 120 years ago, the Great White Fleet set sail on its landmark journey around the world, covering 43,000 miles and calling in at twenty ports. With sixteen new battleships and 14,000 sailors, President Theodore Roosevelt’s new American Navy was a bold demonstration of the US’s newfound ability to flex its military might globally. Likewise, by making appearances across Europe and Asia, it showcased American influence and prestige on the international stage. It was the epitome of Roosevelt’s foreign policy philosophy: “Speak softly and carry a big stick. “

In an increasingly volatile world, where major economic powers are turning inward, the need for effective, cross-sectoral collaboration in international development has never been more urgent.

The UK’s official development assistance (ODA) budget is now projected to stand just over a fraction of its former scale. How well can we use what’s left? How do we ensure it delivers value for money - not only for donors, but for the communities it is meant to serve?

The Coalition for Global Prosperity facilitated a cross-party delegation of UK Parliamentarians to the United States, including Saqib Bhatti MP, Dr Rosena Allin-Khan MP, Bradley Thomas MP, Dr Neil Shastri-Hurst MP, Fred Thomas MP,Matt Vickers MP, and our Chair the Rt Hon Penny Mordaunt.

International Women’s Day is a time to celebrate progress, but also to scrutinise the gap between words and action. Women’s rights cannot merely be acknowledged in theory; they must be actively upheld and protected. 

To mark International Women’s Day, the Coalition for Global Prosperity was honoured to facilitate a delegation of Labour MPs to Zimbabwe , including Dr Anna Dixon MBE MP, Adam Jogee MP, and Rachel Taylor MP, to visit UK funded development programmes supporting women and girls in education, healthcare and nutrition-intervention for life-saving work.

The Government has made the easiest decision politically to find money for its defence spending increase. The increase to 2.5% of GDP is very welcome, but the decision to take the money from our Official Development Assistance (ODA) budget is strategically short-sighted.

President Donald Trump's decision to restrict US foreign aid risks creating a "void" that the UK may have to fill, the chair of the international development select committee has said.

For decades, experts have warned that China’s rise is the most important geopolitical factor. Today, we find that China's power, and its desire to expand it, is having very serious consequences for the UK and the West. And yet, we are not doing anything about it.

The Coalition for Global Prosperity (CGP), The Eleanor Crook Foundation (ECF), and The Labour Campaign for International Development (LCID) hosted an exclusive roundtable discussion with Labour MPs to discuss the government’s international development priorities for 2025.

In a compelling interview, former Defence Secretary Grant Shapps reflects on the Coalition for Global Prosperity’s latest report, which underscores the urgent need for Britain to play an active role in global security and development. Shapps revisits his Lancaster House speech from a year ago, warning that the world is shifting from a post-war era to a pre-war era—not because conflict is inevitable, but because failure to invest in stability could lead to dire consequences.

Donald Trump’s return to the White House brings with it an “America First” foreign policy, prioritising self-reliance, tariffs, and reduced global commitments. What challenges does this pose for the UK and global stability amid rising geopolitical tensions?

The only gain for the Conservatives at the 2024 general election, Shivani Raja is the MP for Leicester East.

As the Member of Parliament for one of the UK’s most diverse constituencies, Leicester East, I am constantly reminded of the rich connections our communities have to the wider world.

Britain’s partnership with Nepal showcases how UK aid drives mutual prosperity. First published in Conservative Home, Shivani Raja reflects on our recent delegation to Nepal, highlighting how UK aid strengthens disaster resilience, fosters economic growth, and benefits both nations. This enduring relationship is a testament to the power of strategic global collaboration.

The last Friday of the year, the 27th December, marked World Pandemic Preparedness Day, a day often overlooked in the post-Christmas haze when many are either recovering from festive indulgence or gearing up for the new year. But this day is too important to forget; just think back to the winter of 2021, when the UK teetered on the brink of its third lockdown in less than a year..

Rt. Hon. Penny Mordaunt, former Member of Parliament for Portsmouth North and former Secretary of State for Defence, and International Development, will join the Coalition for Global Prosperity as Chairman of the Board. Setting out her stall in the Telegraph (20/11/2024), she says the UK should not pivot away from the US and that we should be optimistic about the future of democracies.

In the wake of Labour’s first budget, and the 2024 US election result returning Donald Trump to the Oval Office, Ryan joined Sky News to discuss the impacts this could have on development and the importance of development aid for UK businesses.