The news that Trump has won the American presidency must galvanise efforts to strengthen the UK’s relationship with the EU. A second Trump term will be marked by isolationism in trade and security, will harm efforts to address climate change and will empower the hard right at home and across Europe. Closer ties between the UK and the EU has never been more imperative.
The time for a united Europe
The U.S. election result has caused distress across the UK. America can no longer be relied upon as the guarantors of international security, whilst impending tariffs on goods will further harm the UK’s economy. Additionally, the election of a populist into the world's most powerful office threatens to undermine global democracy.
It is a challenging time for all of us who hold the values of democracy and international cooperation close to our hearts and it is in times of the greatest adversity where boldest action must be taken. The UK and EU must remain bastions of freedom and democracy, irrespective of decisions taken in America. To ensure this, the UK must take this opportunity to align more closely with Europe and show unity on issues of democracy, defence, the environment and economy.
“Today, the world became a more dangerous place, with a volatile, authoritarian isolationist back in the White House. Britain’s response must be to deepen ties with our European allies on defence and trade to protect the economic interests and security of our continent, including Ukraine.” - Best for Britain’s CEO, Naomi Smith
A united security
One of the gravest fears for Europe of a Trump presidency is his position on Ukraine and NATO. On Ukraine Trump has claimed that he will end the war in a day, whilst there have long been concerns regarding his commitment to the NATO security agreement. Any withdrawal of American support from Ukraine and NATO has the potential to shatter the international security framework.
Now is not the time to withdraw support from Ukraine, the threat of Russian expansion is clear, accusations of electoral interference in Georgia and Moldova illustrate the ambition of Moscow’s combative foreign policy approach. While the UK has recently signed a security deal with Germany and Defence Secretary, John Healey, has outlined plans to renew Britain’s defence pact with France, it is imperative that the UK and the EU come together to agree on a united security alliance. The Foreign Secretary must take advantage of progress made during his visit to Luxembourg in October, where he and foreign ministers from the EU discussed Europe's future security arrangements.
A protected economy
Trump plans to introduce a universal tariff on all goods entering the U.S. of up to 20% for countries in Europe. These tariffs, if introduced, could massively damage the economic prosperity of the UK and EU. It is critical therefore that the UK removes trade barriers with our largest trade partner. Alignment with EU regulations would reduce costs for British business’ and boost trade.
A Trump presidency makes it more urgent for the UK Government to negotiate a better trading arrangement with the EU that proves mutually beneficial. The EU will be feeling similar economic insecurities this morning and will recognise the importance of a united and prosperous Europe, strengthened by improved trade and security arrangements. Indeed, French President, Emmanuel Macron, and German Chancellor, Olaf Sholtz, outlined today their commitment to “a more united, stronger and sovereign Europe” following Trump’s victory.
A collective climate responsibility
The first Trump presidency saw the US withdraw from the 2015 Paris Accord and renege on past environmental commitments. Trump has called climate change “one of the greatest scams of all time” and it seems likely that his second term will see a further abdication of climate responsibility. With the effects of climate change ever more visible, dangerous and closer to home, it is essential that the UK and EU speak with one voice on climate. A UK-EU partnership must fill the void left by America and become the driving force towards net-zero.
A much needed first step to providing such international leadership would include the UK Government aligning the country's carbon emission scheme with the EU’s that would not only reduce costs for UK business’ but protect the environment and signal the UK’s determination to take a leading role on environmentalism.
A common belief in democracy
Trump has consistently undermined democracy, produced unfounded claims of voter fraud and remains under investigation for attempting to overturn the result of the 2020 election
Similar to Brexit and Trump’s initial victory in 2016, it is likely that this success will galvanise the hard right across Europe. For fellow strongmen like Erdogan and Orban, Trump’s victory will be celebrated. While the populist actors across Europe including Farage, Le Pen, Vox (Spain) and the AfD (Germany) will undoubtedly see his election as a vindication of his underhand methods and nativist policies.
With Europe threatened by the hard right and a populist in the Oval Office, now is the time for the UK and EU to stand up together for democratic values. Now is the time where we must act in unison to reject the corrosive allure of populist nationalism and seek to build bridges between countries and between cultures. One way a deeper UK-EU relationship could help to undermine hard right tendencies (especially considering the worrying rise in the far-right youth of Europe) is by agreeing to further social and cultural cooperation.
Now is the time to pursue a youth mobility scheme that strengthens the cultural bonds between our European allies and ourselves. A stronger UK-EU relationship which could deliver a cultural visa scheme to make it easier for artists to travel and perform is vital for cultural dissemination. Together our artists and young people can provide invaluable cultural exchange with the EU, an exchange that strengthens our relationship with Europe, highlights the strength of diversity and rejects cultural homogeneity.
A unique opportunity
Trump’s election is worrying but it must crystallise our commitment to fighting with conviction for a closer UK-EU relationship, a partnership of nations who stand for the rights and freedoms that Trump does not. A relationship that will protect our continent from Russian aggression. A relationship that will partly insulate our continent from American economic and environmental isolationism, allowing the UK to become a world leader on climate change. A relationship that will provide the cultural exchange that can help to undermine the rise of populist nationalism across our continent. A Trump presidency will be a challenge, but it provides urgency for the implementation of mutually beneficial and necessary improvements in UK-EU relations.