Brexit and The Transatlantic Relations

The American War of Independence in the 18th century marked the beginning of transatlantic relations. From those times transatlantic relations changed, evolved over years. United States of America and European Union are connected two actors on the economic, security, cultural and historically sphere. Especially USA and United Kingdom has a special relation thorough to history. USA has also good relationship with other European countries. Despite the modern Franco- American ties have gone back and forth during the last few decades, General de Gaulle’s periodic quarrels with the US, relations were good. For instance, France played a significant role in the NATO aerial bombing campaign in Serbia and Kosovo during the 1990s and the US-led coalition during the first Gulf War in 1991. However, in 1966 De Gaulle was decided to withdraw from NATO’s military command structure. Another example is in 2003 French President Chirac refused to follow US-led coalition of the willing into Iraq. On the other hand, France and USA cooperated on energy sector. In 1950’s when France started its nuclear program, USA follow up closely. It is understandable that there are always ups and downs, crisis and stable times between USA and EU. Various crises such as 2008 Global Financial Crisis, Iraq War, Brexit and Covid-19 Disease had affected the relations deeply. These crises are some of the shaping actors of transatlantic relations. Especially the 2008 crisis showed that economic supremacy of the USA and Europe and the legitimacy of its privilege to shape the world economy is questioned. Following all that information main topic in this article is to understand how Brexit can shape the traditional Transatlantic relations.

United Kingdom is an important player in US-European relations. This means not only the close relations with Washington, but it is also reflecting that Britain play a key role on the European security and its membership of the EU, and Europe’s interests and America’s role as a European power. Even President Obama in 2015 at one of his speeches to the BBC, said that United Kingdom gives us more confidence in the European Union, and it is strengthen the transatlantic relations. With the Trump administration taking office in the USA in November 2016, the problem of burden sharing in NATO between the Transatlantic partners came to the fore. Also, Trump’s populist and nationalist rhetoric and the Transatlantic strategic partnership have turned into an interesting and controversial paradigm. It has caused a rise of populism and nationalism; and decrease of West liberal values. Another point that Trump supported the UK’s leaving decision from EU. Even his visit in January 2017 to Theresa May, he mentioned about Brexit as a “good thing”.

Brexit is the name given to the United Kingdom’s leaving from the European Union. It is a Britain and exit. The UK’s exit from the EU is likely to change transatlantic relations in the coming decades, if the EU is able to stop contagion after Brexit. Also Brexit could result in a substantial shift in the continent’s power dynamics. Brexit as word firstly used in mid 1980’s and explained as a Europe sceptisizm. Although the predecessor to the EU, the European Economic Community founded in 1957, the US has been pressuring countries toward European integration since Kennedy but UK did not choose to be in this community. However, after a short while Britain changed his decision and applied for membership and became a member in 1973. Membership does not affected the sceptisism about European Union politics. It has been one of the skeptical countries in the EU for many reasons. For example, in 1975 plebiscite attempt to questioning membership, does not entered to the Schengen area, not participate in Euro zone.

The referendum that was held on June 23, 2016, marked the first time an EU member had voted in favor of leaving the Union, shocking both Europe and the rest of the globe. After this event there was a thought about Brexit will affect other countries and they could decide to exit from European Union but it did not happen. There were also discussions in the UK about reversing the exit, but on March 29, 2017, the notification letter for the withdrawal according to the Lisbon Treaty was delivered to EU Council President Tusk. The important thing is that what will happen to transatlantic relations after Brexit.

Brexit could result in a substantial shift in the continent's power dynamics. Thus, United States have to change it politics interact with other European states. For instance, the US would likely speed up its reunion with Germany as the leading economic force in the EU as a result of Brexit.In 2017 there were debates about extend the transition period of the United Kingdom until end of the 2020 but no such application has been made. With Brexit, the United States will need to collaborate considerably more closely with Germany if a deal is to be reached. France and Italy, was the EU's important economies, and a possibly significant role to play. However, given their enormous and ongoing financial challenges, it is difficult to see how they might dethrone Germany as the undisputed EU leader in this policy area. The German conservative party is much more closer to the United States views about free trade. Also some important cities like Frankfurt is better positioned than Rome or Paris to replace London. Because competitive taxes and labor laws are more fits with United States. However, United Kingdom will be stay as a important trade partner for the United States. Similarly, due to its EU membership and usage of the English language, Dublin, the capital of the Republic of Ireland, is ideally positioned to replace London as a potential relocation destination for US firms seeking entrance. As the EU has a very intertwined structure, the issues that need to be understood on trade issues have also manifested themselves in the early stages. That is why the process of Brexit slowly changed because it is not easy to segregating the people, politics and the system.

Although UK has left the EU, must fulfill the commitments they made during the period of membership. On the other hand, Brexit can result as security and military gap in Europe because it can weaken the status of Europe at global level. Issues that still can be affected by Brexit the Common Foreign and Security Policy (CFSP) and the Common Security and Defense Policy (OSDP) known as the EU's independent external security and defense policies. Some other experts with Brexit, the EU's traditional focus on defense integration efforts the United Kingdom's abstentionist approach arguing that the EU can take firm steps towards becoming a "defense union" with the removal of its veto, and that Brexit as an important opportunity. Two aspects has different approaches. It is clear that Britain will be still partner for US and it will be essential for EU and the US to maintain close cooperation. For the US, transatlantic relations always important relations and always faces sets of challenges. But no choice to reinforce defense cooperation with other EU allies. In the coming years various cooperations and alliences will develop as a result.

The historical background between US and Britain with the Brexit will give an opportunity to US make a new agreements other Europe countries. There is Europe countries which has powerful militaries and member of NATO, having provided consistent support to the United States during international crisis. Germany has been successful in establishing itself as a strategic partner for the US since reunification. In the 1990s, the Luftwaffe took part in NATO airstrikes against Serbian forces in Bosnia and Kosovo, marking Germany's first overseas military operation since World War II. For example despite all this discussions US and Germany clearly closed. Especially about the refugees, economic, trade crisis topics Obama and Merkel met to discuss. As a result until Brexit plebisite Germany and Britain on Washington’s eye with different purposes became more important than France.

Nevertheless, France also an potential ally for the future security relation for both Europe and United States. Although all NATO members contribute significantly to the organization, France and the UK have historically held the top military positions in Europe ever since World War II. As a result, the US and France will need to coordinate more closely on EU military cooperation after Brexit. France has a permanent chair on UN Security Council and has a nuclear power. That is why it can be all over the world intervention at crisis points next to with an army with the experience The US military ally in the Union could take up the position. On the other hand, Germany has not investing to become a military power because of the historic reasons on the same level as France or the UK. France's military is among the most forward-deployed in the world; it is a seasoned force that has been effectively mobilized for missions across the globe.

Colonial empire history and as an universal communication language English and military capabilities United Kingdom decision to left EU, will loose an important power from the union. Another big point for the France is that it does not have to get a Parliamentary approval for foreign military intervention. French military can respond any crisis rapidly and effectively. Moreover, France had increased its defence spending compared to other Europe countries. With Obama's victory in 2008, there had already been a recognizable rapprochement between France and the United States even before the Brexit vote. Former French President Nicolas Sarkozy determined in 2009 that France's military should re-join NATO's integrated command structure in an effort to repair the dramatic deterioration in relations with the US that occurred during the Bush administration. For example, French military cooperated with US military for the interventions of the African continent. The fight France waged against the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS) in 2015–16 raised its profile in Washington. It can be said that France and US have stood shoulder to shoulder in the fight against Islamic State. Although US forces remain more closely integrated, especially on intelligence issues, with Britain than with France, there is room or this to change with Brexit.

The fundamental issue for the US is European states' ability to contribute to international peace and security, and their unwillingness to do so may push the US even further toward giving up on the Europeans in the belief that this will force them to act on their own.

The future of Transatlantic Relations with Brexit, a significant aspect is that EU’s independent defense and foreign policy. In accordance with the Lisbon Treaty, member states were allowed to maintain their own national policy with regard to foreign and defense affairs. Since the 1992 Maastricht Treaty, additional EU Treaties have been successful in gradually establishing an autonomous EU Common Foreign and Defense Policy, with the Lisbon Treaty bringing in significant new advances. The UK won't have as much say in determining the Common Foreign and Security Policy after it leaves the EU. Brexit, France, and the United Kingdom have been at the center of initiatives for European defense cooperation. This includes a network of bilateral and multilateral defense agreements like the Saint-Malo and Lancaster House Accords, as well as the evolving Common Security and Defense Policy. Over the past 20 years, the EU has begun to position itself as a serious security player on the international stage.

Conclusion

With Brexit, for the first time in EU history once there is a backward trend in integration step has been taken. The so-called skeptics of EU integration, including the UK, decided to stay out of practice. With this separation opinions that there will be a disintegration within the EU and that the EU's supranational structure will become stronger have not yet materialized. However, Brexit represents a potentially significant change to the way transatlantic relations have been carried-out since WWII. However, the Union has lost a powerful, leading member. When evaluated in terms of global politics, Brexit means that it no longer has the closest and most effective European ally at the EU table.

Considering that transatlantic relations already need an overhaul, new alliances in transatlantic relations should be expected in the coming years. In this direction, the USA may develop a relationship similar to the "special relationship" established with the UK by taking the Franco- German axis as the interlocutor for Transatlantic relations. However, it cannot be denied that the United States, the US-EU partnership, and the broader transatlantic connection all rely on Britain's participation in the EU.

Additionally, Brexit provides EU nations with a better chance to collaborate with NATO and the US. As a result, there is a conviction that US-EU relations may continue to be strong without the UK as long as institutional linkages, human leaders, and shared values and interests are there.