Airstrip One

Second Most Powerful Nation - 17th November 2002, 14.13

This appellation has been used a few times in recent weeks to describe Britain's (supposed) ability to project military forces beyond the European theatre. Its latest use is here in the Aerotech News and Review where Nile Gardiner and John Hulsman provide a succinct, if distinctly US flavoured article on the pressures facing Blair: dissent within the old left and a sceptical, indeed oppositional, European Union.

Britain's position as a leading global player has been greatly enhanced since Sept. 11, in large part due to Blair's standing "shoulder to shoulder" with President Bush. As the primary nation in Europe able to project substantial military strength beyond the continent, Britain has emerged as the world's second most powerful military and political power in the 21st century. It is no coincidence that it was the only nation to join the United States in launching military strikes on the opening day of the Afghanistan offensive. The closeness of the Anglo-American relationship undoubtedly causes envy and disquiet among a resentful Brussels establishment, who feel militarily inadequate and virtually irrelevant on the world stage.

Whilst unconvinced by this 'hype', there are some grounds for viewing this current US/UK configuration as increasingly incompatible with the moves underfoot in the European Convention for a sovereign state emerging from the EU. As The Economist stated this week, tax harmonisation may prove to be an "uncrossable line" for Great Britain and Eire, with D'Estaing stating that those who oppose can leave. Should events turn that way...