UK Foreign Office Explored Options on Zimbabwe Including Military Intervention in 2004
In July 2004, the UK Prime Minister's office asked the Foreign Office to prepare options regarding policy on Zimbabwe amid concerns about Robert Mugabe's rule. One option considered was the removal of Mugabe by force; however, the Foreign Office dismissed military intervention as not a ‘serious option’ due to practical and legal challenges.
The paper noted that changing a government from outside a country is nearly impossible, referencing the failures in Afghanistan, Iraq, and Yugoslavia. It highlighted that military action would require a United Nations Security Council resolution, which was unlikely to be obtained given the lack of international support. Additional risks included potential heavy casualties, impacts on British citizens in Zimbabwe, and the absence of regional or international backing or legal justification.
Other options explored involved tougher UK measures such as asset freezes and closing the embassy, or re-engaging diplomatically. Brian Donnelly advocated for critical re-engagement with Mugabe, while then Prime Minister Tony Blair favored re-engagement and asked the Foreign and Commonwealth Office to devise a comprehensive strategy. Laurie Lee warned that Mugabe could disrupt the G8 Africa agenda at the Gleneagles summit.
Post-event developments include South African President Thabo Mbeki's later claim that Blair tried to pressure him into joining a military coalition to overthrow Mugabe, a claim Blair denied. Mugabe was eventually deposed in a military coup in 2017.
