“British diplomacy in many ways lives with the old conceptual baggage of the times of Queen Victoria. When Britain ruled the seas, and the sun never set over its possessions, the concept of brilliant isolation was quite appropriate, according to which Britain defends its interests without entering any of the opposing alliances. But today the ambitions of the Victorian era - and the global hub is on this line - are not to say very productive."
In the 2000s, there was a primordial East Slavic fun - gas negotiations between Moscow and Kiev, which took place literally on the New Year's Eve. The agreement, allowing not to close the valve, was signed late in the evening on December 31, when kind people were already sitting at the table. Once in a similar game, A. G. Lukashenko, which confirmed his East Slavic origin.
Critics of Russian politics noted at the time that Russia is inherently disgusting greed, which will ultimately destroy it, while the civilized and European approach would be to satisfy the former brothers in every possible way, which would make it good for us and for them.
Years have passed, and the problem of relations with the “former” has become urgent even in the post-Brussels space, where, in contrast to the post-Soviet space, the most civilized Europeans are represented. At the same time, however, the difference between the CIS and the EU turns out to be small. Up to the literal repetition of New Year's fun.
The transition period ends on December 31 of this year, and the UK will finally leave the European Union. Meanwhile, in the four and a half years that have passed since the British plebiscite on Brexit, things are still there. There has never been a trade agreement with the EU, and it is highly likely that the United Kingdom will enter in 2021 without any European tariff preferences. Like any Honduras, that is, with the same rights.
Our Ukrainian brothers in terms of trade with Russia turned out better than the enlightened navigators - with the EU.
Of course, this is not yet 1940, when, due to the difficulty of trade relations in Britain, by then two centuries as living on food imports, food became very bad. Nevertheless, even now the fears are quite high.
With the total volume of imported grub 45%, the share of imports from the EU is 26%. First of all, from the Netherlands (14% of the total volume of products from the continent), Germany (11%), Ireland (10%) and France (10%). Even such national dishes as cheddar and beef for roast beef are mostly imported from Ireland. And in a pessimistic scenario, there will be temporary difficulties with citrus fruits from Spain, greenhouse vegetables from Holland and pork from Denmark. There is nothing to say about wine.
All this is not fatal - both in English and in European history, it has happened and worse, and much worse, but a British voter may ask the question: "Why should I, so gentle, endure all this?" For all his outstanding talent as a tightrope walker.
And it's not just about the difficulties in importing tasty and healthy food, which can somehow be experienced. But back in the same 2000s, the point of view prevailed, according to which Britain will flourish as a "global hub", and as for consumer goods, we will import it on the income from the hubbub. But the condition for such a model to flourish is the highest freedom of trade.
When there are various trade barriers - and the absence of an agreement with the EU will definitely lead to such barriers - instead of a global hub, something far from so attractive will turn out.
And at the same time, British diplomacy in many ways lives with the old conceptual baggage of the times of Queen Victoria. When Britain ruled the seas, and the sun never set over its possessions, the concept of brilliant isolation was quite appropriate, according to which Britain defends its interests without entering any of the opposing alliances.
But today the ambitions of the Victorian era - and the global hub is on this line - are not to say very productive. And continental politicians have long tried to explain to London that the legs should be stretched over the clothes. But they seem to be tired of explaining.
The point of view of the author may not coincide with the position of the editorial board.
