Alwaght- Without doubt, the decision on whether Britain would remain in the EU or exits from it lies with the British and their appointed representatives. But the result of such a decision would not only come out with impacts on Britain and the EU, rather, it would have some international and intercontinental repercussions. Therefore, all relevant sides are justified when they have their say on it.
From an American viewpoint, it would be very unfavorable should London decides to get out of the European Union. At first glance, this point of view could be a bit strange, because the US owes obtaining its independence to separation from the Great Britain. However, the prevalent conditions are entirely different from the circumstance of the time of the US independence. The British exit from the Union- also known as Brexit- could make London’s close allies concerned. An array of reasons could be enumerated for the allies’ worries.
The EU membership of Britain is one of the reasons that makes Washington think of its bonds with London as worth keeping. The relations with the UK is not only seen from a window of bilateral ties. Britain is so significant for the US because within the EU, London could defend positions which are close to those of Washington.
London-Washington’s “special ties” have been affected considerably after the British parliament has not upheld, at least until September 2015, any move by Britain to take military action in Syria. During the past several years, the UK has shifted to an ally less trustworthy and at the same time less capable, and its decision to quit the Union and consequently subordination of its role in Europe could even speed up this process. Actually, the Brexit could limit Britain’s influence in the EU even further.
From another aspect, an EU without Britain would mean that Germany would take lead in the Union more than ever. An intensified role of this EU player could not bring forth positive results, as it would possibly set other countries at loggerheads with Germany. In such a situation the EU would lose the needed potentials to act unanimously in the global scene. The ultimate result would be impairment of the EU and that could take place in a time that the US is in need of a stronger ally. It could be that the American public opinion, which want the US to roll back its role in the global issues, take Britain’s EU exit as a clue proving that America’s traditional allies are not doing exactly their share of the work they have to do.
One reality should not be thrown out of mind: The European convergence project, which was launched after the Second World War, has managed to provide an unmatched stability and development for nearly 75 years in most parts of the Continent. The British exit could activate the centrifugal forces inside the European Union. The nationalism and populism, which have emerged at the instigation of social and economic factors in Europe, would find the appropriate opportunity to thrive.
The British people’ decision to quit the EU would also once again give rise to the controversy of independence of Scotland. Many in Scotland would again raise the issue of an independent Scotland in a bid to stay within the EU. Certainly, the US is not interested in prolonged and difficult negotiations with the Scottish leaders to buy their permission for building the American nuclear weapons bases on the soil of Scotland and deploying submarines to Scotland in a time that once again Russia is deemed a threat to Europe. In this condition, divergence would be unavoidable. Whatever happens in Scotland would be influential on other parts of Britain. Separation of Britain from the EU and Scotland from Britain could heighten tensions in Northern Ireland between pro-British citizens and the republicans who are in favor of union with Ireland.
Ultimately, the British decision on its relations with the EU would not be made in vacuum. At the present time, the EU is dealing with a set of economic and financial problems. The large waves of migration and the Russian measures are other threats facing Europe. In addition to all these, we can add the challenge of terrorism, the climate change, the chaos in West Asia and outbreak of Zika Virus.
Late in the current year, the US would pick its new president and undoubtedly the last thing the upcoming US’ president would be obsessed with is the exit of Washington’s closest ally from the EU.
