Being in Rwanda right now is a remarkable and moving experience. A nation with a vibrant social and economic life and nearly universal access to primary education, despite having recently lived through some of the worst atrocities of the 20th century.
Two-thirds of the world’s population, spanning from the most isolated islands in the Pacific to the southern tip of Africa, is currently being hosted by leaders in Rwanda.
Rwanda never belonged to the British Empire; instead, it voluntarily joined the Commonwealth in 2009 after realizing the advantages of being a part of an alliance that includes two-thirds of the world’s population and some of its fastest-growing economies.
There are few venues more crucial for maintaining world peace, prosperity, and influence, as many British Prime Ministers before me have acknowledged, including Her Majesty the Queen and the Prince of Wales.
We profit from the fantastic Commonwealth advantage—the “fertilizer” I alluded to yesterday—of shared institutions and languages, which widens doors and lowers transaction costs.
We want to take advantage of those opportunities, which is why I this week announced significant new British investments in green infrastructure projects as well as trade initiatives intended to lower trade barriers.
In close alliance with our European neighbors while also strengthening our ties with longtime allies in Asia, Africa, the Caribbean, and the Pacific, this is how the UK plans to position itself after Brexit.
More trade and commerce creates jobs and stability in other nations while also lowering costs for British consumers and expanding business opportunities for the UK.
Vladmir Putin’s unprovoked attack on Ukraine, sadly, puts that stability and prosperity in danger.
The majority of the nations represented in Kigali today are suffering as a result of Putin’s foolishness, with their populations being pushed further into poverty by rising food and energy prices.
I am aware of and greatly appreciate the fact that the rising cost of living has had a significant impact on many families and businesses in the UK.
For this reason, the Chancellor of our country has unveiled an unprecedented package of financial aid to assist the most vulnerable households.
But we must also be aware of the problems in other parts of the world.
According to the UN, the war in Ukraine as well as climate change and post-pandemic supply shortages will cause an additional 48 million people to experience acute hunger this year, which is defined as starvation.
I spoke to President Zelenskyy last week in Kyiv last week about how we can unblock Russia’s blockade of Ukraine’s grain exports.
But today we are also announcing a new £372 million package of UK aid.
That funding will support the UN’s emergency response in the hardest-hit countries, as well as providing cutting-edge science partnerships to look at drought-resistant crops and new agricultural techniques.
And as I go tomorrow night to the G7 in Germany we will also commit to looking at what more richer countries can do to bring down global commodity prices and increase food supplies to get the world economy back on track and stick up for the freedoms in which we all believe.