Name? Boris Johnson
Westphalian identity? As British as they come, but European…
Age? 56
Why is he in the news? Our friend BoJo just presented the new outlook of the United Kingdom’s foreign policy for the next years to come. This will include investments of 26 billion pounds, a shift of focus towards the Indo-Pacific region, and less spending on aid. BoJo summed the goals up by vowing to become the European partner “with the broadest and most integrated presence” in the world.
Why do we care? BoJo is a friend of ours and he promised us in exchange for Brexit, a global Britain. This new outlook has the potential to shape foreign policy extensively in the next few years, no longer bound by the European one-voice foreign policy, the UK can act much quicker and more extreme than the continent, see Hong Kong or Myanmar as examples.
Why should you care? Because the British matter a little bit in the world of IR? Especially in the development sector the UK has influence as one of the biggest donors, the cutting of funds there will have real life implications for many, yet few of our readers will be affected, so on our how much should you care scale, 6/10.
Who else cares? Vladimir Putin. Russia has been identified as the “most acute direct threat to the UK” which poses “the full spectrum” of dangers. What a compliment this is to Putin, Russia went from a regional power (Thanks Obama) to the most acute threat in only seven years. A blessing for the Russian soul which identifies itself through its foreign policy.
Any further comments? The UK wants to increase its nuclear warhead arsenal from 180 to 260. Why may you ask? We do not know…Russia and the US want to modernise and decrease, maybe BoJo wants to participate in the “my button is bigger than yours” game with Kim Jong-Un?
