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New Delhi: Britain is preparing for a substantial reduction in its global diplomatic presence as ministers move to identify embassies, residences and other foreign assets for sale from the country’s vast £2.5 billion estate (roughly Rs26,250 crore). Newly released budget papers show the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) has begun “rationalising” its worldwide network of more than 6,500 properties after widespread neglect left hundreds in poor condition.
The overhaul forms part of the department’s long-term restructuring plan known as FCDO2030, which aims to streamline operations and reshape its footprint both overseas and within the UK. According to government documents, high-value sites in expensive cities, including New York, such as a £12 million flat diplomats acquired in 2019 (approximately Rs 126 crore), are among those under review for disposal.
British news publisher Politico reported that earlier this year, spending watchdogs had raised serious concerns about the crumbling state of the diplomatic estate. The National Audit Office and the Public Accounts Committee found that around 15 per cent of the portfolio, roughly 933 properties had been judged unsafe or not fit for use, with the FCDO estimating a maintenance backlog of £450 million (around Rs 4,725 crore).
The problem has been exacerbated by the fact that Britain has already sold several of its most valuable embassy sites, including major compounds in Bangkok and Tokyo, leaving few large assets left to offset budget pressures. The move comes amid wider reductions in the UK’s soft-power reach, following cuts to international aid and strain on institutions such as the BBC World Service.
As part of the ongoing restructuring, union representatives told MPs this week that the FCDO has begun offering redundancies to UK-based staff, a step that could shrink its domestic workforce by up to 30 per cent. Overseas, the department is reviewing the scale and placement of its global network, which currently comprises more than 250 diplomatic posts across over 150 countries.
The government has been asked to respond publicly to growing concerns over the planned changes.
