The Europeans have been incapable of preventing it, despite an international context that should have persuaded them to keep Britain aboard. At the very least an agreement encompassing enhanced security and defence would have symbolised a community of strategic interests between the British Isles and the Continent. Was it really the political nature of the Union that scared off our partners across the Channel, who are generally more pragmatic and mercantile? Was it the community method, which was finally far too restrictive that did not allow them sufficient political freedom? Was it the lack of any enthusiastic project for the future of Europe for the 21st century that failed to retain the support of a people in quest of a its prestigious history?
As for the British, indeed, the outcome of Brexit has to date, been even more devastating. The referendum on 23rd June 2016 aimed to cure division within the Conservative Party: the party’s interest was preferred over that of the country. Where are the brilliant elites who succeeded over the centuries in carrying forward the Kingdom’s superior interest? What has become of the UK? An off-shore platform anchored just outside the Single Market, largely managed by non-Europeans, financed by Russian, Asian or Arab billionaires in total breach of its brilliant, glorious past?
It has got everything wrong in this disastrous operation – the strategy, tactics and the result. Triggering article 50 without any negotiation strategy was almost suicidal; wanting to interpret a populist mandate was an impossible task, which led the Prime Minister to rule out, from the very beginning, continued membership of the Customs Union and the Single Market, and finally to do everything to remain in it; ignoring the bizarre consequences of history, Gibraltar, the bases in Cyprus and especially the Irish border, illustrated the recklessness of a government that went as far as weakening itself by convening and losing a general election. A rare waste for a result in which everyone will lose out!
And here, we are no longer challenging the European Union, its institutions and mechanisms, which will soon be the focus of the European elections debate. It has been rather more effective and loyal. It is a question of appealing to the member States of Europe, which have been unable to spare themselves these mistakes, this loss of time and energy, these necessarily negative consequences, which finally and unfortunately, reflect a lack of vision, thought and strategic positioning, i.e a true weakening. That of the UK of course – but not just that.
