Letter: Britain's ambivalent foreign policy fails
Your support helps us to tell the story
From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.
At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.
The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.
Your support makes all the difference.Sir: Steve Crawshaw's report (12 July) on President Clinton's declaration that Germany has now taken over from Britain the status of a special relationship with the US, and the strong support voiced in his Berlin speech for German leadership in uniting Europe, has finally exposed the bankruptcy of British foreign policy over the past 15 years. Our ambivalent commitment to the developing European Union seemed partly motivated by the mistaken belief that our parallel special relationship with the US gave us an influential role in both camps. We now find that we count for little in either of them.
Instead of glorying in the exercise of the British veto and championing our opt-outs from the mainstream of European integration, we should surely undertake a fundamental review of our European policies. Most of our partners are anxious to move ahead towards full economic monetary and political union as quickly as practicable, to be able to face together the new challenges presented by the collapse of the Soviet empire and the instability in the East. There is increasing talk about a multi-speed Europe with a core group of countries - ready to move towards a European federation - being in the fast lane, while the laggards are left behind to catch up later.
Britain's real interests are to put further hesitations behind us and be in that fast lane with the rest of the European leaders.
Yours faithfully,
ERNEST WISTRICH
London, NW3
12 July
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments