Britain needs new defence pact with Europe amid fears Trump won’t defend it from attack, voters say
Voters believe Britain should join forces with Europe in a new defense pact because it can no longer rely on Donald Trump’s America to defend itself in the event of a military attack by Russia.
This is the definitive result of a poll Independent To gauge public reaction to dramatic changes in US foreign policy under Donald Trump and Russia’s Vladimir Putin’s increasing hostility towards Europe, including Britain.
According to a JL Partners poll, 55 percent of British voters want a new UK/European defense alliance without America to counter the Putin threat, while only 11 percent oppose the plan.
Such a move would mark a historic shift in defense policy with major diplomatic consequences.
Currently, the defense of Britain and Europe against the threat of attack depends on NATO, which was established by European countries and the United States in 1949 following World War II.
Under NATO’s cornerstone Article 5, an attack on one member is considered an attack on everyone. In practice, this commitment is backed by the massive military firepower of its largest member, the United States.
But America’s commitment to NATO has been called into question since President Trump’s re-election last year and his stance on the Russia-Ukraine conflict.
Mr. Trump has called European countries “weak,” repeatedly criticizing them for not spending enough on defense and even threatening to ignore NATO’s pledge not to defend them if they were attacked.
Additionally, Trump is accused by some of siding with Russia, not Europe, in its war with Ukraine.
In case of a ceasefire, Ukraine will be given NATO-style ‘5th Armed Forces’ against future attacks by Russia. It promised to offer ‘substance-like’ protection, but its refusal to go further has led some to question its value.
In fact, the only time NATO’s Article 5 was triggered was in defense of the United States after the September 11 attacks in 2001.
A number of prominent European figures have raised the alarm about this issue in recent weeks.
NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte warned allies to begin stepping up preparations “according to the magnitude of the war our grandparents endured.”
His comments were echoed by the new head of MI6, Blaise Metreweli, who highlighted the growing threat from Russia, which he said was “testing us in the gray zone with tactics just below the threshold of war”, while defense minister Al Carns said “the shadow of war is knocking on Europe’s door”.
His comments reflect fears that President Putin may follow his invasion of Ukraine with a new attack on Europe, such as the Baltic states.
Russia has violated European airspace by using warplanes and unmanned aerial vehicles, as well as cyber attacks and acts of sabotage.
European countries already cooperate on defense issues through a range of organisations, such as Norway and the UK-led Joint Expeditionary Force to defend against the threat from Russia in Northern Europe.
Moreover, European countries are currently increasing their defense spending.
However, it will be years before they can defend themselves without relying on the United States.
James Johnson of JL Partners said: “The radical change in views on foreign policy by Donald Trump’s White House appears to have hurt British voters.
“According to our poll, voters have lost faith that America will automatically come to the rescue if Britain or any of its European neighbors face a real military threat.
“They think Europe must take control of its own military protection to guarantee its security.”
(Here are the numbers that will accompany the story);
JL Partners polled 1,562 adults online on December 13 and 14.
