'Brexit' threatens to undermine U.S.-Britain special relationship

Britain’s decision to quit the European Union could send damaging shockwaves through the bedrock Anglo-American “special relationship,” raising questions about London’s willingness and ability to back U.S.-led efforts in global crises ranging from the Middle East to Ukraine.

The loss of the strongest pro-U.S. voice within the 28-nation bloc, as a result of the “Brexit” referendum, threatens to weaken Washington’s influence in European policymaking and embolden Russian President Vladimir Putin to further challenge the West, analysts and former diplomats say.

The British referendum on Thursday, widely seen as reflecting an increasingly nationalistic and inward-looking public, also risks the splintering of the United Kingdom itself, which could further reduce its role and stature in world affairs

“Britain’s decision to quit the European Union could send damaging shockwaves through the bedrock Anglo-American “special relationship,” raising questions about London’s willingness and ability to back U.S.-led efforts in global crises ranging from the Middle East to Ukraine.”

That’s already going to change because of the demographics in the younger American generation. Young Hispanics have no cultural ties to the UK and Britain has nothing in Latin America beyond Belize (formerly British Honduras). The special relationship will be undergoing an adjustment over the next 2 decades anyhow. Ironically, the UK citizens with the most direct ties to the US (and Canada) may be British Muslims and Indians with family in North America.

“The loss of the strongest pro-U.S. voice within the 28-nation bloc, as a result of the “Brexit” referendum, threatens to weaken Washington’s influence in European policymaking and embolden Russian President Vladimir Putin to further challenge the West, analysts and former diplomats say.”

One suspects the French left will take up the slack. Putin’s been caught out funding Marine LePen’s National Front party, and without Britain post-Hollande France has to find atnother proxy for dealings with Germany.

“The British referendum on Thursday... risks the splintering of the United Kingdom itself, which could further reduce its role and stature in world affairs”

If whatever a country is doing at home isn’t working, world affairs is a diversion to avoid confronting reality. Britain still has a great international brand, but its domestic scene is a mess.

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