National Security Situation: Great Britain will leave the European Union in March 2019 ending decades of political and economic integration. This has left Britain at a strategic crossroads and the country must decide how and where to commit its military and security prowess to best achieve national objectives.
Background: Britain is a nuclear power, a major North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) ally, head of a Commonwealth of Nations, and a permanent member of the United Nations Security Council with a strong history of global engagement. Much of this prestige has been tied into Britain’s membership of the European Union and the defence of Europe is currently seen as a critical national security interest. In September 2017 Prime Minister Theresa May re-iterated that Britain remained ‘unconditionally committed’ to the defence of the continent. From a traditional view-point this makes sense; the European Union is Britain’s largest export market and Britain has grown international influence through membership.
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WNU Editor: I expect Britain to maintain its political and economic ties to the EU, albeit in a slightly different form. As for its defense and security needs. It's involvement in NATO has not changed, so I expect minimal (if any impact) from there.
Britain says its leaving the EU and the EU leaders, France and Germany, say they want a EU army to defend itself against the United States, Russia or China.
ReplyDeleteThat intent throws the entire western alliances into disarray over the long haul. Merkel and Macron both said it and their top deputies endorsed it. The EU moves at a glacial pace but it does move once a decision is made. Over time I expect this desire to take budgetary shape during the 2020's.
Great Britain ought to see this emerging multi-polarity as opportunity and not get caught up in entangling alliances, either in trade or defense.
"Great Britain ought to see this emerging multi-polarity world as opportunity and not get caught up in entangling alliances, either in trade or defense. Agreed!! This would actually be good advice for America as well.
ReplyDeleteI would add in "defending" against America EU leaders are suggesting a defense against a threat that simply does not exist. There is no way America would attack western Europe. Why name America as a threat? IF they are planning on attacking America then it would flow from such a plan that they would want to have methods in place to "defend" against US counter measures.
Perhaps America should begin by getting ready for this now. We've heard in the media that Russia is changing its military policy to allow for the use of nuclear weapons in the face of a conventional threat. This is actually a good idea for America that I have advocated for quite some time. Perhaps there is a way to eliminate this EU threat to America BEFORE it becomes unmanageable. There may be a military option to eliminate this before it materializes. If so, there will need to be some way to eliminate France's formidable nuclear arsenal before they have a chance to use it against us. If Britain should side with the EU, there would need to be a plan for this as well.