Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office

The Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO), often called the Foreign Office, is the ministry of foreign affairs and a ministerial department of the government of the United Kingdom. It helps look after the country's interests all around the world.

The office started on 2 September 2020 when two older groups joined together: the Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) and the Department for International Development (DFID). The FCO itself was made in 1968 by joining the Foreign Office (FO) and the Commonwealth Office. The Foreign Office began even earlier, in 1782.

The leader of the FCDO is called the secretary of state for foreign, Commonwealth and development affairs, or “foreign secretary.” This job is one of the top four important positions in the Cabinet, known as the Great Offices of State, together with the Prime Minister, Chancellor of the Exchequer and Home Secretary. Yvette Cooper became Foreign Secretary on 5 September 2025 after the 2025 British cabinet reshuffle.

Every day, the FCDO is run by a civil servant named the permanent under-secretary of state for foreign affairs, who also leads His Majesty's Diplomatic Service. Sir Oliver Robbins was in this role from 8 January 2025 until he left on 16 April 2026.

The work of the FCDO is checked by the Foreign Affairs Select Committee to make sure it spends money wisely and follows good policies.

Responsibilities

The Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office helps keep the United Kingdom safe by working against threats like terrorism and weapons. It also aims to help the UK grow by supporting trade and investment and making sure British people traveling or living abroad get the help they need.

The office also looks after the British Overseas Territories. These areas have had different ways of being managed over time, and some people think the way they are handled could be improved to better connect them with the UK government.

Ministers

The Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) has several ministers who help lead the department. Some of these ministers are part of a special group called the cabinet, and their names are shown in bold in the list.

Minister	Portrait	Office	Portfolio
Yvette Cooper MP		Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs	Overarching responsibility for the departmental portfolio and oversight of the ministerial team; Cabinet; National Security Council (NSC); strategy; intelligence policy; honours.
Jenny Chapman, Baroness Chapman of Darlington		Minister of State for International Development and Africa	Africa; migration; development and humanitarian; International finance; climate and energy security; violence against women and girls
Stephen Doughty MP		Minister of State for Europe, North America and Overseas Territories	US and Canada; Europe; Eastern Europe and Central Asia; Overseas Territories; defence and international security; sanctions
Hamish Falconer MP		Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for the Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan and Pakistan	Middle East and North Africa; Afghanistan and Pakistan; consular and crisis
Seema Malhotra MP		Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Indo-Pacific	Indo-Pacific; growth; global tech and Artificial Intelligence; departmental operations
Chris Elmore MP		Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Multilateral, Human Rights, Latin America and the Caribbean	Latin America; Caribbean; small island developing states; UN, multilateral, human rights and Commonwealth; strategy and delivery

History

The Foreign Office began in March 1782 by joining two older groups that handled both foreign and home matters. Later, in 1968, it merged with the Commonwealth Office to form the Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO).

In 2020, the FCO merged with the Department for International Development to create the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO). This change aimed to align aid spending with the UK’s overseas goals. Some leaders disagreed with this merger, feeling it might reduce the UK’s respect worldwide.

International Academy

Main article: International Academy (United Kingdom)

In February 2015, a special school for diplomats was started. This school helps government workers who deal with other countries. It was later renamed the International Academy when the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office was created in 2020. The academy works with universities and diplomats to share ideas and learn together.

Programme Funds

The Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) uses its budget to fund projects that match its goals, which are listed in its Single Departmental Plan. This funding includes help for countries in need, called Official Development Assistance (ODA), and other funds. The money supports many projects and helps with traditional diplomatic work.

The FCDO is important for managing two major UK government funds that support the country's National Security Strategy and Aid Strategy. These include the Conflict, Stability and Security Fund, which helps reduce risks of conflict in countries important to the UK, and the Prosperity Fund, which supports economic growth in partner countries. There is also the Global Innovation Fund, which invests in new ideas that can improve life for people living on less than $5 a day.

The FCDO also supports several academic funds, such as Chevening scholarships and Marshall scholarships, along with other programs like the Domestic Programme Fund and the Overseas Territories Environment and Climate Fund.

FCDO Services

In April 2006, a new group called FCO Services, now known as FCDO Services, was created to help with important tasks. By April 2008, it could offer its services to other government departments and even businesses outside the government.

FCDO Services works all over the world in 250 places across 168 countries. It offers many helpful services such as digital and cloud support, building security, logistics, translation and interpreting, and technical security.

The group is responsible to the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs. It helps not just the FCDO but also other government departments and foreign governments. Since 2011, it has been building a secure environment for UK government organizations to use online services safely. It also manages the UK National Authority for Counter Eavesdropping, which helps keep UK assets safe from different types of attacks.

FCDO Services is a public group that does not get money from taxes. Instead, it makes money by selling its services to customers in the UK and around the world. Its leader is responsible to the Secretary of State and to Parliament for how well the group works and behaves.

Global Response Office

The FCDO Global Response Office works all day, every day. It helps British people who are traveling or living outside the United Kingdom. If something urgent happens, like losing a passport, getting very sick, or being arrested, this office is ready to help.

Library of the Foreign and Commonwealth Office and Records Department

The old papers from the Foreign and Commonwealth Office were given to King’s College London in 2007 to save money. These papers have 90,000 items from the 1500s up to now.

Buildings

The Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office has several important buildings in the United Kingdom. These include:

• Foreign and Commonwealth Office Joint Headquarters Kings Charles Street, Whitehall, King Charles St, London
• Joint Headquarters Abercrombie House, East Kilbride
• Hanslope Park, Hanslope, Milton Keynes. This location houses several important services.
• Lancaster House, St James's, London. This mansion is used for special events and to welcome important guests from other countries. It also holds the Government Wine Cellar.

The FCO previously used the Old Admiralty Building in Whitehall, London.

Main Building

The main building of the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office was built between 1861 and 1868. It was designed by architect George Gilbert Scott in an Italianate style. The building was originally shared by four different government departments. During the Second World War, part of the building was used for important secret work.

Over time, the building became too small for all the staff, but people worked hard to save it. In 1997, after a long restoration, the building was open to the public once a year during Open House Weekend. In 2014, work began to update the building so all employees could work there together.

Devolution

International relations are managed from Whitehall for the entire United Kingdom and its territories. However, the devolved administrations also have offices in places like the European Union, the U.S., and China, working alongside British diplomatic missions. These offices help promote their own economies and make sure their interests are considered in British foreign policy. Ministers from these administrations can join international talks when the British Government agrees, such as in EU fisheries discussions.