UK ponders, post-Ukraine, foreign policy

RUSSIA'S invasion of Ukraine has sent Boris Johnson into a frenzy of foreign policy activity as he seeks to recover his political authority after a series of domestic challenges in late 2021 and earlier this year that still may imperil his prime ministership.

Several prominent critics who called for Johnson to resign over Downing Street lockdown parties during the pandemic, including the Conservative leader in Scotland Douglas Ross, have u-turned. Many of these same people now warn that the only beneficiary of the prime minister quitting would be Russian President Vladimir Putin.

On Tuesday (Mar 15), Johnson meets with counterparts from Nordic and Baltic states for talks on the crisis and how to rebuild Ukraine. He is also reportedly going to visit Saudi Arabia this month to discuss how that Middle Eastern country might help enhance the UK's energy security and indeed that of Europe at large.