The director of Chatham House, a prestigious think-tank, opines that UK prime ministers have a difficult time navigating their trips to the US. Overt displays of subservience risk rekindling age-old accusations of a still-lingering puppet state while overly eager requests for attention can look cringe-worthy. Nonetheless, Rishi Sunak’s recent visit was a success as he skillfully accomplished two key tasks while avoiding a potential pitfalls. His approach reflects a new realism concerning the UK’s emerging stance on the world stage, acknowledging that it no longer has the influence it once wielded. However, the new unpredictability of US foreign policy looms over the UK’s relationship with the country, a fact that cannot be ignored.
The first wise move by Sunak was to reaffirm the UK’s backing for Ukraine, highlighting that this is an area where the transatlantic relationship continues to remain sturdy. US involvement is crucial for Ukraine’s ultimate success, but this isn’t guaranteed as some voices, especially on the Republican side, have raised questions regarding this stance. Biden responded to public anger regarding the “forever wars” and pulled the US out of Afghanistan in a near-overnight shift in policy.
Sunak’s second clever move was announcing Britain’s plan to convene and lead a summit on regulating artificial intelligence. This is a domain where words may matter more than deeds, and while the UK can often boast better rhetoric than action, regulation of AI affects global governance and is an area that requires shaping.
One potential pitfall that Sunak managed to avoid was the temptation to press for a speedy trade deal with the US. The pro-Brexit rhetoric regarding the value of such a deal downplays the difficulty of negotiating with the US, even for close allies like Canada and Mexico. Chlorinated chicken is often used as a symbol for the concessions that would have to be made, a concession that is difficult for many to swallow.
Sunak’s pragmatic approach regarding the UK-US relationship was also reflected in the updated Integrated Review, which outlines the UK’s foreign policy. While some elements of the relationship remain strong, such as intelligence sharing and defense coordination, military relations have been strained due to Iraq and the Afghan exit. In light of China’s increased pressure on Taiwan, the review hinted at the possibility of more support for the US than the UK could practically give in the Indo-Pacific.
The biggest threat looming over the UK’s foreign policy remains the unpredictable nature of US politics, where a change in the presidency might instantly alter US stances on international issues, including Ukraine and Nato. Additionally, resurfacing the past four years suggests that it is impossible to predict what a second Trump presidency would entail, although his association with Putin is a cause for concern.
In conclusion, Sunak successfully avoided the trap of asking for too much or promising too much in return, setting the groundwork for a new and more defined US-UK relationship where different interests are recognized. However, this isn’t proof against a dramatic shift in foreign policy, but Sunak’s cautious and clear approach would have helped the UK diplomatically.
Denial of responsibility! VigourTimes is an automatic aggregator of Global media. In each content, the hyperlink to the primary source is specified. All trademarks belong to their rightful owners, and all materials to their authors. For any complaint, please reach us at – [email protected]. We will take necessary action within 24 hours.
