Image Source: Welsh Government, Crown Copyright
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Foreign policy isn’t devolved. Welsh interests internationally are formally represented by the UK Government.
As the Welsh Government and Senedd are responsible for some policy areas through devolution, they still take part what could be called “international relations”, meaning Wales does have a “foreign policy lite”.
The Senedd's International Relations
Members of the Senedd have had plenty to say on foreign policy down the years despite it being non-devolved.
Ambassadors and delegations from other parliaments – from both independent and non-independent/self-governing countries and regions – are regularly welcomed to the Senedd.
When the UK was an EU member, the Senedd was represented on the EU’s Committee of the Regions. Post-Brexit, the Senedd sends representatives to EU committees as part of EU-UK cooperation.
The Welsh Government's International Relations Policy
As of 2025, the Welsh Government’s “foreign policy” is guided by two policies: the International Strategy1 and the International Delivery Plan2.
The strategy, first published in 2020, set out three core aims:
- Raise Wales’ international profile – by ensuring Wales maintains a post-Brexit relationship with the EU, by working with the Welsh diaspora (Welsh people living abroad, so-called “ex-pats”) and making sure the UK’s foreign agencies promote Wales abroad.
- Grow the economy – through increased exports, attracting foreign investment and promoting economic sectors where Wales is considered to be a “world leader”.
- Establish Wales as a “globally responsible nation” – by promoting work Wales has done to protect a minority language, our high recycling rate and the Wellbeing of Future Generations Act.
The Delivery Plan is regularly updated and lists specific actions the Welsh Government has done to promote Wales abroad or build upon what’s in the International Strategy.
Specific examples from the most recent delivery plan (2025) include: a celebration marking 50 years of Japanese inward investment in Wales, promotional activities around Euro 2025 and an International Investment Summit (set to be held in Newport during December 2025).
The Welsh Government Abroad
As of 2025, the Welsh Government has a network of 20 international offices (they can’t be called embassies or consulates) in 11 different countries.
Most of these are located in countries that are important for trade or for raising Wales’ profile in major economies; five offices are in the US, with three each in China and India.
These offices originally formed part of the International Business Wales agency. The agency was set up to boost foreign trade and investment and was brought “in-house” to the Welsh Government in 20103.
The “value for money” offered by the international offices has long been questioned. The Welsh Conservatives called for the offices to be closed in 2025 after annual running costs were revealed to be £4.7 million4. The Scottish Government has faced identical criticisms5.
Is the Welsh Government's International Strategy working?
The International Strategy will likely be renewed or refreshed following the 2026 Senedd election – depending on who forms the next Welsh Government.
The Senedd’s Culture & International Relations Committee scrutinises the Welsh Government’s international relations activity annually.
Their latest report6 called for the Welsh Government to be more transparent about its international relations activity as it’s difficult to tell how much progress they’ve made in meeting the goals and aims of the international strategy. So the answer is: “We don’t know”.
There will be things you can measure – like the number of jobs created or protected. There’ll be things you can’t measure accurately – like whether Wales is better known around the world.
There will be plenty of “international relations” activity done outside of politics too.
You could make the case that Wales qualifying for major football tournaments (“sports diplomacy“), globally-recognised actors and musicians, and shows like Disney+’s Welcome to Wrexham, have done more to raise Wales’ profile around the world than anything the Welsh Government or Senedd have done.
- Welsh Government (January 2020). “International Strategy“.
- Welsh Government (April 2025). “International Delivery Plan“.
- Prof. DJ Evans (17th July 2010). “Closing overseas investment body is ‘own goal’ for Wales”.
- Business Live (14th March 2025). “Tories call for the closure of Welsh Government’s overseas offices saying they are a waste of taxpayers’ money“.
- Daily Record (20th June 2021). “Scottish Government splurges £6m a year on offices in seven different countries”.
Senedd Cymru. Culture, Communications, Sport, Welsh Language & International Affairs Committee (March 2025). “International Relations Annual Report 2024”.
No AI tools were used to draft this post.
