The Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO) has announced plans to adapt the UK's Syria sanctions regime following the fall of Assad's dictatorship in late 2024. Minister Stephen Doughty MP stated that the government will bring forward measures in the coming months to amend the Syria Regulations, including relaxation of restrictions in the energy, transport, and finance sectors, as well as provisions to support humanitarian delivery. The changes aim to support Syria's reconstruction and promote stability whilst maintaining asset freezes and travel bans on former regime members. These amendments will be subject to parliamentary debate.

The Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO) has announced that the UK, European Commission and Spain reached a political agreement on core aspects of Gibraltar's post-Brexit arrangements. The agreement establishes dual border controls at Gibraltar's ports, with Spain conducting Schengen checks while UK and Gibraltar authorities uphold existing controls and removes all checks between Gibraltar and La Línea. It creates a customs union between the EU and Gibraltar, removes physical barriers at the Spain-Gibraltar border and includes commitments on state aid, taxation, labour standards and environmental protection. The agreement maintains both parties' legal positions on sovereignty while establishing a framework for regional cooperation. Negotiating teams will now finalise the legal text for signature and ratification.

The Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO) has announced that the UK and EU will reduce the Russian crude oil price cap from $60 to $47.60 per barrel, effective 2 September 2025. The measure maintains existing caps on refined products. A 45-day wind-down period until 17 October 2025 applies to trades contracted before the implementation date that comply with the current $60 cap. The action modifies the December 2022 price cap mechanism that prohibits G7 companies from providing shipping and insurance services for Russian oil sold above the cap price.

The Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) has imposed sanctions on three units of Russia's Main Intelligence Directorate (GRU) and 18 military intelligence officers. The measures target units responsible for cyber operations against UK infrastructure and the 2022 Mariupol Theatre bombing. The sanctions package includes restrictions on GRU Unit 26165, which conducted reconnaissance for missile strikes, and officers linked to the 2018 Salisbury poisonings. Additional sanctions target three leaders of 'African Initiative' for conducting Russian-backed disinformation campaigns in West Africa.

The Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) has announced 56 new sanctions against Russia’s military industrial complex and Russian-backed mercenary groups which will restrict the supply of essential military equipment Russia needs for war against Ukraine. The new sanctions include 56 designations made under the Russia (Sanctions) (EU Exit) Regulations 2019, the Central African Republic (Sanctions) (EU Exit) Regulations 2019, the Libya (Sanctions) (EU Exit) Regulations 2020, the Mali (Sanctions) (EU Exit) Regulations 2020 and the Chemical Weapons (Sanctions) (EU Exit) Regulations 2019.

The Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO) has introduced a new sanctions regime targeting people smuggling and irregular migration, effective from 23 July 2025. The regime, created under the Sanctions and Anti-Money Laundering Act, enables asset freezes, UK travel bans and director disqualifications for those involved in facilitating irregular migration. Secondary legislation establishing the Global Irregular Migration and Trafficking in Persons sanctions regime has been laid before Parliament, with the first wave of sanctions to be imposed immediately. The regime will complement new powers being introduced in the Border, Security, Asylum and Immigration Bill.

The Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO) has announced 19 designations under the UK's Russia sanctions regime, marking Foreign Secretary Ed Miliband's first major sanctions package. The measures are designed to target Russia's military machine, oil and gas revenues and ageing shadow fleet, further constraining the networks and revenue streams on which the Kremlin relies. The designations comprise: (1) six Russian banks propping up Russia's war economy; (2) six newly acquired shadow fleet tankers identified by IMO number; (3) four entities involved in importing tantalum and niobium; (4) one individual, Alexander Aleksandrovich Zhdanov and (5) two further entities in Frion Ship Management LLP and Northern Engineering Limited Liability Company. The UK has now designated over 3,400 individuals, entities and ships under the Russia sanctions regime, with over 500 designations made in 2026 to date.

The Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) has announced an extension of funding for the National Crime Agency's International Corruption Unit (ICU) by up to £36 million over five years. This significant increase, potentially raising annual aid funding by 44%, aims to enhance the UK's capacity to combat corruption involving developing countries. The ICU, which recently secured its first conviction of a foreign official for bribery, faces challenges in scaling its operations to match the volume of cases. Experts recommend prioritising enforcement against UK professional enablers and companies engaged in overseas bribery, as well as increasing Crown Prosecution Service support and addressing the NCA's recruitment issues to maximise the impact of this funding boost on aid-funded enforcement efforts.

The Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO) has implemented Decision 1/2025 of the UK-Colombia-Peru-Ecuador Trade Committee, modifying the tariff elimination schedule for Colombian goods. Effective from 1 August 2025, this decision establishes an annual tariff rate quota that permits 8,000 metric tonnes of Colombian bananas to enter the UK at a duty rate of £40 per tonne. The modification applies to goods classified under staging category 'BA' in Annex I of the trade agreement. This decision, made under Article 13(2)(g) of the agreement, was presented to Parliament in August 2025.

The Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO) has announced its most substantial sanctions package since Russia's 2022 invasion of Ukraine, comprising 107 new measures. The package marks the first deployment of powers to sanction foreign financial institutions, targeting Kyrgyzstan-based OJSC Keremet Bank. The measures encompass military supply chain entities across multiple jurisdictions, North Korean defence officials, and 40 additional vessels involved in Russian oil transportation. Notable inclusions are sanctions against LLC Grant-Trade for technology transfer violations and 14 Russian oligarchs, including Roman Trotsenko. The UK has now sanctioned 133 oil tankers, representing the highest number among European nations. These measures aim to disrupt Russia's military capabilities and revenue streams, particularly targeting the 'shadow fleet' vessels that have transported approximately $5bn worth of Russian oil products in the past six months.

The Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO) has announced a significant expansion of the UK's anti-corruption efforts through the imposition of sanctions on three high-profile kleptocrats and their associates. These measures, implemented under the Global Anti-Corruption Sanctions Regulations 2021 (SI 2021/488), include asset freezes and travel bans targeting individuals accused of embezzling substantial sums from Ukraine, Angola, and Latvia. The sanctions mark the commencement of a new campaign by the Foreign Secretary to combat corruption and illicit finance, with cross-governmental cooperation to protect UK interests and support global economic integrity. The initiative is bolstered by ongoing collaboration with the National Crime Agency's International Anti-Corruption Coordination Centre (IACCC) and International Corruption Unit (ICU), demonstrating a comprehensive approach to tackling financial crime and sanctions evasion.

The Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO) has announced a new wave of sanctions against Belarus in response to the recent sham presidential election. The measures, coordinated with Canada, target six individuals and three entities, including the Chairman of the Belarusian Central Election Commission and leaders of institutions responsible for human rights violations. The UK has also excluded Belarusian defence companies from its economy, focusing on those supporting Russia's war in Ukraine. The sanctions aim to address the ongoing political repression in Belarus, where over 1,250 political prisoners are reportedly incarcerated. The FCDO's action underscores the UK's commitment to working with international partners to protect national security and support democracy in Belarus.