United Kingdom

Research on the UK includes British defence and security policy, Brexit, trade, and the UK’s future relationships with the EU and other nations.

Photo shows a policeman walking in front of 10 Downing St which is lit up in the blue and yellow colours of the Ukrainian flag

Following on from our coverage of the 2016 EU referendum, Chatham House continues to provide an independent platform for debate and analysis around the issues raised by the Brexit vote and its international implications, especially on UK foreign policy and its bilateral trading relationships.

Having formally left the EU, the UK is uniquely placed to find a new equilibrium and has a strong ideological commitment to free trade which makes it difficult to imagine the country becoming protectionist in any meaningful sense. 


The UK also has a strong sense of national and popular sovereignty, and post-Brexit is aiming to find a new balance between openness and integration, and a sense of control.