• Making the world safer from global terrorism and weapons of mass destruction
• Reducing the harm to the UK from international crime, including drug trafficking, people smuggling and money laundering
• Preventing and resolving conflict through a strong international system
• Building an effective and globally competitive EU in a secure neighbourhood
• Supporting the UK economy and business through an open and expanding global economy, science and innovation and secure energy supplies
• Achieving climate security by promoting a faster transition to a sustainable, low carbon global economy.
• Promoting sustainable development and poverty reduction underpinned by human rights, democracy, good governance and protection of the environment
• Managing migration and combating illegal immigration
• Delivering high-quality support for British nationals abroad, in normal times and in crises
• Ensuring the security and good governance of the UK's Overseas Territories

From the 1 April 2008 the FCO will be guided by its new Strategic Framework:
FCO Strategic Framework  (PDF, 1.3MB)