Lord David Cameron visits St Antony’s College

Lord David Cameron, former UK Prime Minister and Foreign Secretary, visited St Antony’s College on Friday 5 December. His lecture, titled Practising Politics in an Age of Disruption was fully booked by St Antony’s students. There was such wide interest that the lecture was also livestreamed into another lecture theatre on site, so that more members of the College community would be able to watch.

Lord Cameron also held a small group discussion with 15 St Antony’s students, giving them the opportunity to ask questions and discuss topics relating directly to their research interests.

One of these students, Yoonki Lee (MPhil International Relations), reflects on the experience:

Last week, I had the extraordinary opportunity to attend a talk and subsequent private Masterclass with Lord David Cameron, former UK Prime Minister and Foreign Secretary. The experience offered rare insight into both his personal reflections and the broader evolution of British foreign policy over the past two decades.

The visit began with his main lecture at the Nissan Institute. Lord Cameron spoke about the political, economic, and security challenges shaping regions across the world, drawing from his first-hand involvement in major global events. His discussion highlighted the complexity of governing during periods of rapid change, as well as the importance of long-term strategic thinking in foreign policy.

Following the lecture, I was fortunate to join a private discussion with 14 other Antonians selected for the session. Each of us introduced our academic backgrounds and research topics before engaging Lord Cameron in a wide-ranging conversation. The small-group format provided the space to ask questions tailored to our individual areas of study, and Lord Cameron drew on his experience as both Prime Minister and later Foreign Secretary to share thoughtful and detailed insights.

Given my research interests, I was particularly keen to ask about his role in strengthening the United Kingdom’s relationship with the Republic of Korea. Especially during his tenure as Foreign Secretary, he played a pivotal role in elevating the bilateral relationship to a Global Strategic Partnership, formalised through the 2023 Downing Street Accord. I asked how the two governments negotiated deeper cooperation in areas such as regional security, advanced technology, and development assistance. His explanation shed light on the diplomatic processes behind such agreements and the long-term strategic value they are intended to create.

I also asked about the UK’s potential role in encouraging North Korea to re-engage in dialogue with South Korea. With the UK having been one of the few countries to maintain an embassy in Pyongyang—now temporarily closed due to COVID-19 restrictions—Lord Cameron offered thoughtful reflections, which will be invaluable to my continuing research.

Overall, the session was intellectually stimulating and deeply informative. Hearing directly from someone who has shaped key moments in recent international history was a privilege. I am grateful to St Antony’s College for providing this exclusive opportunity, and I hope that similar engagements will continue to enrich the academic community in the future.