Foreign policy identity of the United Kingdom after Brexit

Antony Miller

Foreign policy identity of the United Kingdom after Brexit

Antony Miller

Abstract

This study aimed to systematise the primary changes brought about by Brexit for the United Kingdom govern- ment, highlighting the main threats that Eurosceptics may face. The research was based on content analysis of media outlets and news agencies, including The Mirror, Reuters, and others. Additionally, a documentary analysis of official reports from the Office for Budget Responsibility and the Office for National Statistics under the United Kingdom govern- ment was conducted. The study’s results revealed that in 2018, the United Kingdom’s foreign trade turnover amounted to approximately 800 billion dollars, rising to nearly one trillion dollars by 2023. However, projections for the United Kingdom’s Gross Domestic Product growth are lower than those for 24 of the 27 European Union member states. It was found that relations between the United Kingdom and the EU are governed by the Withdrawal Agreement, the Trade and Cooperation Agreement, and the Northern Ireland Protocol. The latter remains a contentious issue, as evidenced by the widespread workers’ strike in early 2024. Since the onset of the full-scale invasion of Ukraine by the Russian Federation in 2022, the United Kingdom government has aligned its sanctions packages with its European counterparts. Additionally, British military personnel have joined the European Union’s Permanent Structured Cooperation (PESCO) military mobility project. Although the rhetoric of British diplomacy has shifted post-Brexit, this is unlikely to be directly related to the United Kingdom’s departure from the European Union, as British diplomatic views have long aligned with the commonly accepted approach within democratic societies to addressing international challenges. The findings of this study indicate that the United Kingdom government still faces several unresolved issues following its withdrawal from the European Union, further complicated by the unstable geopolitical situation. Nevertheless, the United Kingdom’s status as one of the most influential global actors in international relations, coupled with the relative resilience of its economy, suggests, according to government forecasts, the potential for a swift adaptation to changes within the international community

Keywords

consumer price index; business environment; contractual framework; sanctions alignment; diplomatic di- mension

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Suggested citation

Miller, A. (2024). Foreign policy identity of the United Kingdom after Brexit. Foreign Affairs, 34(5), 101-111. https://doi.org/10.46493/2663-2675.34(5).2024.101