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Punishment Politics - and the Issues Between Britain, France and Europe

  • Writer: Amer Loubani
    Amer Loubani
  • Nov 15, 2021
  • 5 min read

It's rarely fun when a nationalist leader clashes with another nationalist, especially over a nationalist issue. The passive-aggressive relationship between the UK and France since Brexit isn't new, but it has taken a turn for the worst in recent weeks. The summary of recent events is that France has grown frustrated with alleged chokeholds imposed by Britain on fishing licences in its exclusive waters, and has tried its luck a bit more in the channel. After pushback from the UK, this issue spiralled to the point that French President Emmanuel Macron began issuing threats of sanctions. This, paired with a poorly worded letter from the French Prime Minister to the European Union (EU) Commission asking for action against the UK has led to the impression that Macron's France is actively trying to punish Britain for its exit from the EU. Additionally, Britain's actively running disagreement with the Union over the status of Northern Ireland has left a void between Europe and the UK filled with more than just the sea. This is why the conflict is ill-timed:


West vs East

As COVID-19 subsides, The United States looks east to its looming confrontation with China. Whether it will be conventional or economic, over global trade or Taiwan, the showdown is coming - and the US must assemble its cast of actors accordingly. A united Europe is needed, and there is no doubt President Biden is less than satisfied with continental goings-on.


Russia continues to expand its influence - the NORD Stream 2 gas pipeline (opened recently) now allows the Eastern European giant to transport natural gas directly to Germany and Western Europe, relieving its urgent need for other major pipelines that run through Ukraine. This state of affairs gives Russia an effective chokehold over supplies to Ukraine, a position of strength it will no doubt exploit. Russia has also rushed to make up the shortfall of natural gas to Europe in the midst of supply shortages that are far-reaching in implication - another position of leverage occupied.


Meanwhile, France and Germany wrestle to be the biggest influence on the EU. In the midst of influental German chancellor Angela Merkel's exit from power, Macron sees himself as the prodigal son. He is misguided in this approach because decision making by consensus among Europe's biggest players is the only way to bridge the massive gap left by Merkel's exit, France cannot lead alone. Add to this the Brexit mess, and we see a Europe struggling to put Britain behind them. Macron's decision making is ruined by a need to project French imperial dominance abroad (something that helps him win votes at home) and this is why he shouldn't lead the EU. Inciting trade wars with the UK - over fishing, an industry worth 0.1% of UK GDP and 0.06% of Europe's - comes down to issues of national posturing not trade, and both sides need to see the big picture sooner rather than later. The US, for its part, has not helped itself. Behind France's back, Biden progressed a trilateral security pact between itself, the UK and Australia to provide the latter with nuclear submarines. This deal overwrote one already agreed between the French and Australians, and France knew nothing of it until it happened.


Macron has set US representatives on the path to smoothing out this issue, but Biden must not let arms deals come between him and his principal allies abroad if he too is to see the big picture (the US president admitted things could have been done differently after the fact). A Europe on the same page bolsters the US in its attempts to keep China at bay - it is crucial the current rocky straights become open sea.


Issues at Home

Aside from conflicts Brexit related, the EU and UK both wrestle with extensive issues at home. Europe contends with a growing authoritarian east, Hungary causing trouble from within the union, and Belarus causing trouble from the outside. In close cooperation with Moscow, the latter retaliates to EU sanctions by allegedly encouraging migrants to cross into the union's borders. This paired with eastern intimidation of Ukraine (a close partner and protectorate of the EU and NATO - also suffering authoritarian issues) gives the EU a long list of issues with no apparent solution in sight. Rather than verbally condemning Hungary's arch-authoritarian Victor Orban for dismantling the nation's checks and balances, it must get tough by withholding EU funds from lining the pockets of his cronies. Regardless of its status as an EU member it must be categorised with Belarus as a troublemaker and sanctioned accordingly. Hungary's allies in the EU must also be dissuaded from backing undemocratic causes if the EU truly desires to right the ship.


The UK doesn't suffer such continental power struggles, but mismanagement is still aplenty. Noone was truly ready for COVID-19, but the extraordinary lengths to which Boris Johnson's conservative government failed to manage the country in the pandemic's wake, duration and aftermath is very troubling. That coupled with a catalogue of ministerial power abuses, shady deals and broken rules - from Dominic Cummings to Owen Paterson - led Boris Johnson to have to confirm last week: "The UK is not remotely a corrupt country." A YouGov survey for the Times found that 60% of those asked agreed with the statement "the Conservatives these days give the impression of being very sleazy and disreputable."


Bad governance is one thing, but bad governance laced with corruption is absolutely worse. Boris Johnson cannot hope to take the UK forward from the chasm opened by Brexit without cleaning up his cabinet. He, like Mr Macron, leans too heavily on the nationalist cause to make decisions, and would prefer being at odds with Paris to better bolster his perception among select corners of UK media.


I believe that one cannot solve issues on the outside without first dealing with trouble internally, and there's no doubt this plays out on the continental scene. A France (and by extension EU) & UK with clear heads would make better decisions, and there is much value in natural allies having a stronger relationship devoid of rhetoric and statements calling for punishment. Besides, in the current climate, open democracies face threats from every angle, the east especially. Sticking together is surely the best option.


Author: My name is Amer, I'm a Computer Science with Business graduate currently working in tech consulting. My thoughts in this blog are based on my opinions regarding international relations, rather than concrete proposals based on research. Feel free to reach out to me via LinkedIn (on the about page) if you have any questions.


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