What Next for Britain and Europe in the Trump Era?
Prof Alison Wakefield PhD CSyP FSyI
Co-Director, University of West London Cybersecurity and Criminology Centre
The election of Donald Trump as US President has defied common wisdom and provoked concern and outrage around the world. Trump attracted international condemnation for his proclamations on Muslims, Hispanics, black people and women, and alarmed US allies with his views on NATO and nuclear proliferation. His rhetoric towards Mexico has been especially antagonistic, and Middle Eastern states are well aware of his anti-Muslim statements. He has vowed to apply substantial tariffs to Chinese imports. He has been accused of being Vladimir Putin’s ‘puppet’, and hence much debate is now occurring about the implications of Trump’s election for America’s relationship with Russia, the conflict in Syria and security in Eastern Europe. As the world waits to see how a Trump presidency plays out in practice, there is a great sense of uncertainty and a concern among America’s traditional allies that they will be able to rely less on the US in the years to come.
Britain has long relied on its ‘special relationship’ with America and served as a bridge between the US and the European Union. Ironically this may provide some negotiating power over the terms of Brexit. But overall Trump’s election and the vote to leave the EU leave Britain significantly more isolated. Britain should now be moving closer to France and Germany in order to deepen foreign policy and security co-operation, yet the political appetite for collective defence has been significantly weakened in the aftermath of the Iraq war. Other European countries need to learn lessons from events in the US and Britain as they face a similar rise of populist and protectionist politics. The EU should seek to act as a cohesive force and play a larger part in keeping the world stable but, in order to achieve this, must find a way of addressing the significant internal challenges it now faces. Brexit will need to be managed with caution and perhaps there is now more likelihood of compromise on the part of the EU.
In short, it is certain that we have entered a riskier global era. The importance of maintaining the closest ties possible with the EU is now greater than ever.
What is the sense of spending $2 million to protect assets of $10 in your company
8 年I believe the world is changing so is politics and majority of Americans were tired of politicians, and here is the reversed. We must all support TRUMP who has triumphant to prove that he is the chosen one.
Failed Interviewee for Father Christmas and Joanna Lumley fantasist.
8 年I fail to understand how anyone in the USA having previously elected the likes of George Bush Jnr., Bill Clinton and Richard Nixon as their President, with the only alternative option in this case being Hillary Clinton, can now take exception to anyone, no matter how repugnant they find them.
MD IPPSO Ltd
8 年Good article. I don't necessarily agree with the EU bits but one thing that may come out of Trumps presidency is that Germany and many other countries sheltering under the NATO umbrella may be forced to raise their spending to the 2% agreed level. It is not fair for the US and to a lesser degree the UK actually to finance others countries defence.
Partner at DWF LLP
8 年It's always been in the interests of Corporate America to have an idiot for President. The convention also is that no US President should ever know where the rest of the world actually is. Surely you all knew that?
Independent Arts and Crafts Professional
8 年I have a humorous fantasy that somewhere Trump is in a class-room where a man with a pointer is showing him where various countries are on a big map. Not that I am that brilliant, but then again, I am not President!