Topic summary
British foreign policy
Extracted from the Wikipedia article Foreign relations of the United Kingdom.
History
Following the formation of the Kingdom of Great Britain (which united England and Scotland) in 1707, British foreign relations largely continued those of the Kingdom of England. British foreign policy initially focused on achieving a balance of power in Europe, with no single country dominating the continent's affairs. This policy remained a major justification for Britain's wars against Napoleon, and for British involvement in the First and Second World Wars. Secondly, Britain continued to expand its colonial "First British Empire" through migration and investment.