UK foreign secretary David Lammy unveiled his vision of a mutually-beneficial UK partnership with Africa in a keynote speech at the Africa Debate 2025 at London's Guildhall. Lammy said that the UK had launched what he called a new "Africa Approach" following a five-month listening exercise with the continent. He said the new strategy would be defined by growth, partnership and opportunity.
"We needed to listen. And I thank you all for your engagement over the course of this process and for what you told us, what we needed to hear... You want, we want, growth. And not just any form of growth - a jump in numbers on a spreadsheet for a year or two - but a secure, sustainable growth for everyone: high-quality jobs, affordable prices, citizens living better lives than those of their ancestors.
"You want, we want, opportunity. Opportunity arising from our respective strengths, like the British education system, like of course the City of London, the incredible natural assets and energised young people across Africa, and our collective commitment to multilateralism.
"And you want, and we want, partnerships. Partnerships that harness our deep historic ties, and the array of personal connections that exist between us."
Lammy hails strengthened partnershipsLammy said that he had visited eight African countries in the past year in a bid to forge a "genuine partnership... between two equals each respecting the other".