Why did Britain come up with Global Britain plan at all? We must begin by discussing Brexit. What is Brexit? This was UK’s plan to withdraw from the EU, which will be explained next to answer the questions brought up.
Brexit had many supporters and opponents. There major views exist on this:
The first view believes that it would be beneficial for Britain economically, because it will expand trade with non-European, and even European, countries, promising a positive outlook for the British economy outside the cumbersome rules of the union.
The second view believes that at least half of Britain’s economy is intertwined with the European economy and cannot survive without the union. Thus, Britain will lose its economic prosperity by leaving the union and, eventually, become a second-class country.
The third view believes in the middle path taken by countries such as Norway and Switzerland. Although they are not EU members, they have maintained relations with it.
The British people voted for Brexit, because they wanted Britain to return to the same glorious era of the empire.
According to a poll conducted by the Pew Research Center, other European countries may also make a move towards leaving the EU, such as France where 60% percent of the people agree with the country’s secession from the EU, and 71% of people in Greece.
Despite much opposition, the UK withdrawal from the EU was finally approved by 55% of Parliament as the opponents predicted.
Brexit Consequences
Brexit had many economic, social and political consequences.
The Economic Consequences
An economic consequence of Brexit was the fall of the British pound by 10%, reaching its lowest level and affecting the British financial and banking system. As an EU member state, the UK was able to host 250 banks from around the world, but a significant number of these banks will be forced to relocate from London to other EU countries.
On the other hand, when in the EU, Britain had an export market of 200 billion pounds and a domestic investment worth 450 billion pounds. It has now lost this market by leaving the union and must operate under different rules.
The Socio-Political Consequences
The withdrawal will also have many political and social consequences, including a move by EU citizens from the UK, and reciprocally from Europe by UK citizens.
According to the Newsweek website, the British prime minister in a speech in London on the country’s withdrawal from the EU has recently said that major world powers are the United states, china and the European Union, and Britain must accept that it is no longer a world power following the comments and predictions about the consequences of the country’s withdrawal from the EU. The United Kingdom proposes a Global Britain strategy under the government of Boris Johnson, to compensate for the consequences of leaving the EU and maintain its influence in the world. The details of this plan will be examined next.
What is the Global Britain Plan?
This is based on four policies:
- Maintaining strategic advantage through science and technology and using it as an integral element of national security and international politics to firmly establish Britain as a global Britain. This is essential to achieving economic, political, and security benefits.
- Shaping the future free international order: cooperating with partners to revive institutional rules and norms that enable Britain to flourish in a variety of fields.
- Strengthening security and defence at home and abroad, working with allies and partners to help Britain maximise the benefits of openness and protecting people in the physical and online worlds against a wide range of threats, radicalism, terrorism, organised and violent crime and gun proliferation.
- Creating flexibility in the country and improving the ability to predict prevent, prepare and respond to climate change and reduced biodiversity, and deal with cyber-attacks.
This plan also has its pros and cons.
The Pros
The pros argue for a stronger defence of democratic values to counter the threats posed by authoritarian regimes such as China and Russia, and establishing international order and confronting threats in order to achieve greater stability and cohesion in the world.
Another view is that if the moral principles in the Global Britain plan are observed and the sovereignty and independence of countries is respected, it can be a good plan; and most importantly, it can lead to the preservation of national interests.
The Cons
Britain’s goal is to be superior to all countries in its economic, security and cyber relations; it will fight to maintain this superiority, including interference in the internal affairs of countries, such imposing sanctions on Burma under the pretext of coups in this country, selling weapons to Saudi Arabia for the sake of maintaining economic interests and superiority, and preventing aid to the Yemeni people under the pretext of fighting Shia terrorism.
Will England Sacrifice its Democratic Values and Human Rights for Economic and Defence Gains Under the Plan?
According to the views presented in this article and the ultimate purpose of Britain for presenting its Global Britain plan, the answer can be “Yes”. Because Britain has taken actions which have violated all the democratic and humanitarian values that it ostensibly speaks of. According to Boris Johnson, the most important thing is protecting national interests; and for the protection of national interests, 24 billion pounds must be allocated to military purposes, weapons sold to Saudi Arabia, civilians killed and countries boycotted to protect the economy.
Boris Johnson’s concern is that Britain will lose its influence and supremacy by leaving the European Union if it does not act accordingly. He is especially concerned about the regional influence of powers such as China and Russia.
But it can also be viewed in a positive light as the country has committed itself to producing less environmental pollution and play a more positive role by attending climate change group meetings. It has also been able to give vaccines to many countries.
Conclusion
According to Boris Johnson, the goal of UK’s global strategy is to maintain economic, political, defence, security and cyber excellence and most importantly safeguard national interests. It can be argued that every country cares about its national interests and independence and UK’s goal in withdrawing from the EU was also to preserve its independence, and that one of its main policies was to maintain its influence in the world.
