The Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) is the government department responsible for promoting the interests of the United Kingdom (UK) overseas. Some synonyms for FCO would be the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Department of State, Foreign Office, or Foreign Ministry. These terms refer to government departments with similar functions in other countries. In the UK, the FCO negotiates commercial, cultural, and political relationships between the UK and other countries. It also manages the UK's network of embassies, consulates, and high commissions located all over the world. Overall, the FCO is an important part of the UK's global outreach efforts and plays a pivotal role in UK foreign policy.