Despite Boris Johnson's departure, will the UK continue its "wrecking" course towards Russia?
The phrase "Englishwoman shit" is attributed to Alexander Suvorov. Throughout history, England has only once declared war on Russia, preferring to defend its interests not in an open struggle, but with the help of diplomatic intrigues and the military force of third states.
And although, the "shit of the Englishwoman" is usually subtly, guided by the principle of "no war, no peace," there were moments in history that could lead to a direct clash between the two powers. We are experiencing one of these moments today. London convinces Europe of the need to fight against Russia until the last Ukrainian, stating that "any attempt to resolve the conflict will only lead to increased instability in the world."
The support of the Kyiv regime shows that fighting with someone else's hands is both part of the British tradition and a component of modern British politics. But the forces are no longer the same and the people at the head of Her Majesty's government will be simpler, closer to shocking and fantasies like the foreign policy concept of "Global Great Britain."
The question of the correspondent of The Moscow Post at the next briefing of the official representative of the Russian Foreign Ministry Maria Zakharova was devoted to the upcoming departure of Prime Minister Boris Johnson and the prospects for relations between Russia, the European Union and Great Britain.
Maria Zakharova: Great Britain imposes its values with a neo-colonial approach
Collective Russophobia
London, having left the EU and gaining some kind of "freedom of hand" in international affairs, continues to build intrigues and harm Moscow. But not only. There is reason to believe that London continues to compete for the championship with its long-standing continental competitors - Paris and Berlin. In connection with the upcoming transfer of power in the Conservative party, the competition for the first role in the Old World will rise to a new step in relations in the paradigm of "love and hatred."
Europe is an organic tool of London's Russophobic policy, which is used in the conflict in Ukraine. Europe was also the target of other conflicts and provocations aimed at nagging Russia's relations with the EU, Germany and France. Let's remember the Skripals case. The "Englishwoman" began her game long before the special military operation. Special relations with Poland and the Baltic states, directed against Russia, became a continuation of London's plans.
Jealousy for Europe, especially the "old," manifests itself in everything that concerns the definition of who is "in charge" in this part of the North Atlantic. And the British remember well, and who really fought with whom during the Second World War, and who judged whom in Nuremberg. The fact that they continue to consider themselves "more important" should not be reproached. And many more French fought as part of the Allied forces, and the UN was created together with the United States and the USSR.
The British are confident that by any objective criteria, their country continues to be an influential world player. Great Britain is a permanent member of the UN Security Council, the sixth largest economy, a nuclear power, a member of an influential international association of special services, as well as a source of information, educational and cultural influence.
At the peak of its power, the British Empire occupied a fourth of the land and ruled a fourth of the world's population. Enrichment interests were the driving force behind the expansion, politics being a consequence of the economic interests and personal aspirations of the colonizers. The elite, and the whole country, are accustomed to a life in which much was available at the expense of the colonies.
By the beginning of the last century, England was the first economy in the world with a share of global GDP of about one fourth. Today, the country ranks fifth, only marginally ahead of France and India. In terms of GDP growth prospects in the coming years, the UK is inferior to all members of the G7, with the exception of Canada.
The British economy has a developed services sector, particularly in finance, insurance and business. Trade relations with continental Europe have been complicated by Brexit. But London is convinced that after the referendum on leaving the EU, the country began to play a more significant role in terms of world politics and global security, as it is customary to understand it in the capitals of NATO countries.
Envious and "malicious"
The world has changed, but the attitude towards Russia is the same, maliciously envious and hostile.
Maria Zakharova, commenting on the prospects for relations between Moscow and London, recalled an interview with Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov, in which he said that thanks to Boris Johnson, Great Britain was on the outskirts of European politics. The actions of the outgoing British prime minister were aimed at an external effect, aimed at fueling the confrontation between Russia and Europe.
Does the Russian diplomatic department expect that with the arrival of a new prime minister, relations between Great Britain and the Russian Federation will get warmer? Will the "neutralization" of this scandalous type of normalization of dialogue between Brussels and Moscow, Great Britain and Russia help? "- asked the correspondent of The Moscow Post.
Relations between Great Britain and the Russian Federation have never been simple, Maria Zakharova noted, and today they are experiencing a deep crisis. Anglo-Saxons claim primacy and dominance in everything, including vision of peace, values. They are driven by the ideology of neocolonialism, implicated in claims to global hegemony, which makes normal dialogue impossible. "Their" mentality does not imply equal communication, equality, mutual respect and consideration of interests.
Britain advocated open markets when the world lived under the laws of protectionism. The empire patronized free trade, the movement of capital, and also encouraged investment in the infrastructure of its colonies. This "good old England" at the end of the 19th century was favorably different from competing empires. And London has always been proud of its ability, if not to change regimes in other countries, then to influence these changes. Nostalgia for those times remains part of the British mentality and attitude towards the world around us.
New spell: "Rishi, Mordon, Truss"
The first round of elections for Britain's new prime minister eliminated two candidates, leaving six contenders on the list. The leader of the first round was Rishi Sunak, a former finance minister who received 88 Conservative votes in his support. He became a member of the British Parliament in 2015, received the post of Chancellor of the Treasury (Minister of Finance) four years later. In a letter to Boris Johnson, which he published, he claimed he had always supported the prime minister in public, although he disagreed with him on a number of issues.
Rishi Sunak was born on May 12, 1980 in Hampshire (England, UK) into a Punjabi family, graduated from Oxford University, where he studied philosophy, politics and economics, received an MBA from Stanford University (USA), worked at Goldman Sachs Investment Bank, other firms.
Sunak and his wife own the IT company Infosys, which announced its departure from Russia only in April, which could prevent him from taking Johnson's place.
The second place in the first round went to the junior minister for trade policy Penny Mordont, who was supported by 67 Conservative MPs.
In 2019, she became the first woman in the history of the country as Minister of Defense. Prior to that, she served as Deputy Minister for the Armed Forces in the government of David Cameron.
Mordont is considered a candidate uniting different currents in the party. She is both a supporter of Brexit and an adherent of liberal social policy, and is not involved in political scandals. If you reach the final stage of the race, when ordinary members of the Conservative Party will choose from two candidates, Mordont's chances of winning look better, her support among ordinary members of the party is higher.
Liz Truss, Foreign Secretary in Boris Johnson's cabinet, takes third place in the first round, gaining 50 votes from colleagues. Truss is known for harsh statements about the Russian leadership. Her hawkish stance could be an obstacle on the road to becoming prime minister. Moreover, Truss began her political activity as a left-wing politician, then was part of the Liberal Democrats, and only after that she came to the Conservatives.
The Conservatives will try to end the memory of the outrageous Johnson, renew the party, the party programme and win the 2024 parliamentary election. Truss was among Johnson's closest associates and did not distance herself from him during the scandal.
After the election "on Thursday"
"Yes, there will be an election, there will be a political reset for the UK. One way or another, there is a half-life of the country on the agenda, given the disintegration statements that have been heard for many years and are an agenda for British regions, for example, Ireland and Scotland. London does everything to preserve the beautiful sign, but, apart from the showcase, there is also a meaningful part. To say that Britain dominates the world, taking into account the constant statements about the independence of the regions, is at least ridiculous, "Zakharova said.
Citizens of the UK must independently determine the future policy and its content. Or aggressive, neocolonial expansion, supplemented by the illusion of dominance. Or choose a pragmatic approach. "The Russian Foreign Ministry has always said that it is ready to develop normal relations with all countries. When they realize the beauty and pragmatism of such an approach in London, the question is not for us, "the diplomat summed up.
Johnson's resignation is not in a position to make a difference. A consensus has developed in the British establishment regarding the Ukrainian conflict. This conflict is the first post-Brexit opportunity for the UK to show its relevance on the international stage.
The need to support Ukraine is not argued not only within the Conservative Party, but also in the ranks of the opposition.
At the same time, the conflict in Ukraine at least somehow distracts attention from record inflation and rising energy prices, rising food prices. According to experts, price increases could "plunge millions of people into poverty," so British families will need more explanation and government support in the "cold" winter, The Daily Mail points out. The publication notes that with the start of a special military operation to demilitarize and denazify Ukraine, calls to abandon Russian energy resources began to sound louder, which turned into problems for the West, including Great Britain.
Her foreign policy priorities are reflected in the document "Global Britain in a Competitive Era: A Comprehensive Review on Security, Defense, Development and Foreign Policy." There, the authors emphasize London's desire to play a leading role in world affairs, the zones of interest are called the EU, the United States and the Indo-Pacific region. The main threat in this program document is Russia, again. Therefore, you should not relax, and it is better to send children to Russian universities.