One of the stunning developments of our time appears to be happening as the Russian invasion of Ukraine continues: the emergence of a new global superpower. The emergence of the European Union as a genuine geo-political force, as well as being the economic powerhouse it always was, will have long-lasting consequences for the world.
This is not another demand from an embittered remoaner that Britain should rejoin the EU because that bird has flown/that ship has sailed. But the reality, which we can all see in plain sight, is that unity among nations is important.
Sir Winston Churchill understood this well enough. The great man was regarded as ‘the father of Europe’ whose vision of a European movement led to the creation of the Common Market, and, ultimately, today’s European Union. Indeed, on 19th September 1946, he literally argued for a United States of Europe. 75 years on, the country he served and led, defeating Hitler and fascism, sits sadly on the periphery as a self-styled clown with a toddler haircut waves frantically to no one.
The EU has brought in enormous sanctions and restrictions against Russia, along with the USA. It has closed down all its airspace to Russian planes, banned Russian propaganda TV companies Russia Today and Sputnik and brought in sanctions against not just Russia but Belarus, too. This in addition to the massive programme of financial aid to Ukraine already announced. We have followed suit in some areas; essentially being dragged kicking and screaming to take stronger action. But this is the point. Britain is no longer leading, as it did when we were in the EU. It follows others. All the power, and soft power, we once enjoyed has gone. It is pitiful to watch.
When and if the crisis subsides, I expect the EU to build on this unity and strength. This will surely be in terms of militarily and to some extent economically and politically. And Churchill’s vision of a United States of Europe will begin to come true, albeit with the country he so loved on the outside of the tent pissing in.
Above all, the EU, along with NATO, have stopped Putin’s divide and rule strategy that began many years ago and culminated with the election of Donald Trump and – yes – Brexit. Trump and Nigel Farage are Putin’s useful idiots and in the case of Farage, he still refuses to condemn Russia. No surprise when Farage himself admires Putin above all politicians. And as well as being a useful idiot, Farage is a traitor in what he has done to weaken Britain, to attempt to weaken Europe and by supporting Donald Trump. A traitor who argued, like Chamberlain did with Hitler, that Putin and Russia should be appeased and not stood up to. Ask yourself why that is. It wouldn’t be that he has something to hide, would it?
At least we are acting with the EU, even though we have no influence on Europe’s response. Perhaps that level of unity will be enough. Either way, we are now on the outside of Europe and I would like Britain to enjoy a closer relationship with Europe by way of an arrangement not unadjacent to Norway’s. How Putin would hate that.
As we noted earlier, the EU has become a global superpower. I would have preferred Britain to have been at the top table alongside the likes of France and Germany, where I think we belong, but at least Europe, with Britain riding on its coat tails, is moving strongly in the right direction. At least Putin and his useful idiots haven’t succeeded there yet.
