August 2019 - Domestic and international challenges could reveal waning influence of the UK

August 12, 2019

Domestic and international challenges could reveal waning influence of the UK

Johns Hopkins SAIS experts weigh in on the United Kingdom’s global status post-Brexit and how tensions with Iran could impact the U.K.’s foreign policy going forward.

Professor Emeritus of American Foreign Policy Michael Mandelbaum wrote in The American Interest that if the U.K. leaves the EU, it “will become poorer and will count for less beyond its borders.” Read more

Director of Strategic Studies Mara Karlin told the Monocle 24’s The Foreign Desk podcast that as Brexit progresses, “there will be a question about what role the U.K. can play globally and in particular, what role the U.K.’s military will play globally.” Listen here

Following Iran's recent seizure of a British tanker, James Anderson Adjunct Professor of Middle East Studies Sanam Vakil wrote for Chatham House that if the U.K. works directly with Iran to resolve tensions over the tanker seizure, then it could “position itself as a bridge between the EU and U.S., and in the process boost its post-Brexit relevance.” Read more

While the U.K. balances its support for the nuclear deal with simultaneously appeasing the Trump administration, Sanam Vakil also told CNN International that Iran’s approach is dangerous and could push the U.K. “to lean closer to the United States against Iran with regards to the Iran Nuclear Agreement breaches and violation.” Read more

The Brief highlights Johns Hopkins SAIS expertise on current events and is produced monthly by the Office of Marketing and Communications.