Britain facing more isolation than ever

[Justpassingtime1]

We have left the EU. New US president is pro-Ireland and less approving of us. Foreign aid budget cut so this will not please either.
Who are our friends post Brexit?

“Our list of allies grows thin.”
It’s not funny at all, especially while our banking system is flooded with Russian money.

We have become the kind of country you suppose you have to be friendly with despite everything. But you don't actively seek them out for friendship.
Billy No Mates.

21 November -
"International Trade Secretary Liz Truss has today secured an agreement for a continuity trade deal with “friend and ally” Canada."

www.gov.uk/government/news/uk-secures-vital-rollover-trade-deal-with-canada-and-agrees-to-start-negotiating-more-advanced-deal-next-year

19 November -
"British prime minister woos Joe Biden with defense [sic] plan."

"For the second time in a week, the U.K. prime minister has made a major policy announcement that he hopes will resonate strongly within Joe Biden’s agenda. On Wednesday it was the U.K.’s 10-point plan to help the country hit net zero carbon emissions by 2050. On Thursday, the biggest increase in defense spending since the Cold War, ensuring the budget will be £6.5 billion higher in real terms by 2024 than under existing plans, amounting to 2.2 percent of GDP; comfortably above the NATO target of 2 percent." ...

"Johnson’s assertion that the U.K. would also seek to “restore Britain’s position as the foremost naval power in Europe” will also be of note to EU powers and strengthen the enthusiasm of some, including France, for the U.K. to be brought into the tent via a future EU-U.K. foreign and policy and defense pact — something London has so far eschewed."

www.politico.eu/article/boris-johnson-woos-joe-biden-with-defense-plan/

The "deal" with Canada hardly counts, does it. It's more "we'll just pootle along and kick hard discussions into the long grass". But "Yay!"

"Foremost naval power". Seriously? It's 2020. They're going to tax public sector workers to pay for all their fuck ups. But we have money to splash on willy waving. 👏🏻

Where's the naval threat? I can see the cyber threat but no one is going to attack the UK by sea. Not sure if you have heard but there are other ways of bringing a nation to its knees.

Where's the naval threat?

7 September 2020;

"Royal Navy ships are leading a multinational task group into the High North in an operation that demonstrates the commitment of the UK and its allies to freedom of access and navigation in the region."

"Type 23 frigate HMS Sutherland and RFA Tidespring will work alongside the United States Navy’s Arleigh Burke-class destroyer USS Ross and the Norwegian Fridtjof-Nansen-class frigate HNoMS Thor Heyerdahl, supported by Danish patrol aircraft."

"They will operate in sub-zero conditions to further enhance our understanding of the challenging environment while helping to maintain peace in the region."

"The UK, US, Denmark and Norway are working together to boost our readiness to operate in the High North and increase resilience in an area which is vital to UK interests."

"This builds on a previous UK/US operation in which HMS Kent deployed into the Barents Sea in May this year."

www.royalnavy.mod.uk/news-and-latest-activity/news/2020/september/07/200907-sutherland-north-atlantic

8 October -

"China represents a strategic threat to Britain as its navy could reach the North Atlantic via the Arctic by a route opened up by global heating, the head of the Royal Navy has said."

www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2020/oct/08/china-strategic-threat-to-uk-as-northern-sea-route-clears-says-royal-navy-chief

Hilarious how important you still think we are.

Perhaps you've heard of cyber attacks and nuclear weapons. None of which are deterred by ships.

When it comes to a show down between China and the UK, I don't think there are all that many prizes for guessing who is likely to win.

As for Biden - well yes, after Johnson mouthed off about Obama he now has a lot of fence mending to do.

As for Biden - well yes, after Johnson mouthed off about Obama he now has a lot of fence mending to do.

Showing off what a nasty racist he is as usual.

I don’t think we have many friends OP. We are a tiny, isolated country now without the bargaining power of the EU behind us.

[quote Clavinova]8 October -

"China represents a strategic threat to Britain as its navy could reach the North Atlantic via the Arctic by a route opened up by global heating, the head of the Royal Navy has said."

www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2020/oct/08/china-strategic-threat-to-uk-as-northern-sea-route-clears-says-royal-navy-chief[/quote]
Jeez do you really think a few type 31 frigates would deter a Chinese invasion force????
Two frigates in the gulf didn't even deter Iran, our days of being a world naval power have long gone.

Even if built, we will then have 24 boats (plus a carrier with heli's on it) 1/3rd will in dock, 1/3 coming home from deployment, leaving 8 to project the UKs global power.

Pissedoff1972
Jeez do you really think a few type 31 frigates would deter a Chinese invasion force????

I have to admit that a Chinese invasion force hadn't crossed my mind - now you've got me worried. I was thinking more of general naval aggression/freedom of navigation/trade wars...

This thread is about friends and allies - not a solo task force. I have already posted; "The UK, US, Denmark and Norway are working together to boost our readiness to operate in the High North and increase resilience in an area which is vital to UK interests."

Also, from my Guardian link;

"The Royal Navy ranks 28th by number of ships, although it is one of only three navies to have a pair of aircraft carriers or more, along with China and the US." ...

"Britain intends to sail the first of the carriers, the Queen Elizabeth, to the Indo-Pacific next spring but will not clarify the exact route. There is speculation that it may be sent to the South China Sea in conjunction with US and Australian warships to assert the right of freedom of navigation."

"Chris Parry, a former rear admiral, said: “The Northern Sea Route is a major component of China’s Belt and Road initiative in its quest to dominate trade in and around Eurasia. The risk is that China, in cooperation with Russia, will seek to exclude others from the route by restrictive practices.”

Thank you for your replies. Very to the point and entertaining too.
I suppose there is always Japan? Australia and New Zealand?

Yes - India as well.

We have recently done a trade deal with Japan.

Aren't we lucky, to have done a trade deal which doesn't quite replicate one we already had.

New Zealand
we import : Lamb and dairy products that undercut UK farmers

what do we export?

India
we import : speciality foods and lots of call centre hours
what do we export ?

Japan
we import : not much really
what do we export?

Still no trade deal to cover fresh food ?

ListeningQuietly
Still no trade deal to cover fresh food?

Plenty of trade deals to cover fresh food - including Kenya (3 Nov) which you told posters on another thread (only a few days ago) we had not secured;

www.gov.uk/government/news/uk-and-kenya-secure-a-trade-agreement

India
what do we export?

"the five goods sectors identified as “sectors of interest” for the UK are aerospace, chemicals, automotive, food and drink and life sciences."

"In the services industries: UK education, travel and tourism and ICT. Big areas of potential are in financial services, business and professional services exports from the UK to India."

Japan

"The British-shaped deal is the first agreement that the UK has secured that goes beyond the existing EU deal, with enhancements in areas such as digital and data, financial services, food and drink, and creative industries."

"It brings together two of the world’s most technologically advanced nations, placing the UK at the forefront of shaping new global standards on digital trade."

www.gov.uk/government/news/uk-and-japan-sign-free-trade-agreement

New Zealand
we import : Lamb and dairy products that undercut UK farmers
what do we export?

Of interest are: "pharmaceuticals, machinery and transport equipment, beverages and vehicles" ...

A trade deal with New Zealand would be a stepping-stone to a deal with the Asia-Pacific nations I imagine.

Why are the EU currently pursing an FTA with New Zealand, not to mention the defunct Mercosur deal they almost signed? Are those sneaky Germans trying to sell their cars at the expense of farmers in France and Ireland?

The Canada "deal" is nothing to be proud of. It basically consists of the UK having to pretend as if they are still in the EU, follow all of the EU rules and regulations, without getting any of the benefits of that.
It's a worse deal than the UK already had with canada.

So, very on brand for Brexit.

The Canada "deal" is nothing to be proud of.

Again, it's a 'stepping-stone' to a new deal/new deals - without having to compete with the interests of 27 other partners.

"The UK and Canada have agreed a deal to continue trading under the same terms as the current EU agreement after the Brexit transition period ends."

"The government said it paved the way for negotiations to begin next year on a new comprehensive deal with Canada."

Why is a trade deal with Asia Pacific so wonderful - however you look at the map, it's still the other side of the world.

The eu/uk deal is not finalised yet so why not wait with your I told you so , its like people want it to go wrong just to be smug , posts like this day after day , why not wait and see as there is nothing you can do or change about any of it

Yank here. Biden wants to ensure that brexit poses the minimum possible risk to the GFA, to the extent that he can influence that. I've no reason to think he has any animosity towards the UK, and in the end he'll do what is best for the US. It's not personal, it's geopolitical.