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World

Britain’s diplomats need language classes

27 December 2024

5:00 PM

27 December 2024

5:00 PM

Britain is increasingly seen as a bit-part player. That’s down both to our post-Brexit identity crisis and being gradually overtaken by emerging economies such as India and Brazil.

But it’s also because British diplomats don’t have the skills they need to advance Britain’s interests with purpose and credibility.

Take foreign languages. Almost three quarters of Britain’s ambassadors aren’t fluent in the language of the countries where they serve. In

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