Jonathan Powell (pictured), former Downing Street Chief of Staff under the administration of former Prime Minister Tony Blair, has been appointed as Britain's new national security adviser, the government announced on Friday.
"Together with his experience helping to negotiate the Belfast (Good Friday) Agreement and work on some of the world’s most complex conflicts, he is uniquely qualified to advise the Government on tackling the challenges ahead and engage with counterparts across the globe to protect and advance UK interests," Prime Minister Keir Starmer said in the statement.
The 68-year-old diplomat played a key role in the Northern Ireland peace talks under the Blair administration, which later paved the way for setting up the Good Friday Agreement. Earlier this year, Powell became the government's special envoy for negotiations between the United Kingdom and Mauritius over the Chagos Islands, which were returned to Mauritian control.
