A choice between Europe and U.S.

By Hasan Suroor

LONDON, JAN. 21.With the diplomatic civilities out of the way and President George W. Bush now a fact of life, hard questions are beginning to be asked about the future of Anglo-U.S. relations and the view on the ground is that the Blair Government has its task cut out as it tries to get out of the shadow of its `special relationship' with the Clinton administration.

American affairs specialists, interviewed on television today, identified Europe and the U.S. nuclear missile defence project as the two major sticking points pointing out that on both Britain had the unenviable task of making some hard choices. It could no longer afford to run with the hare (Europe) and hunt with the hound (U.S.) at the same time, as it had been doing so far.

One expert posed the choice starkly: Britain would need to choose between U.S. and Europe. A more integrationist approach to Europe, with all that it entailed in terms of support to the European defence force, would be incompatible with the sort of `special relationship' which Britain was seeking with the U.S. This flies in the face of the Foreign Secretary, Mr. Robin Cook's argument that ``the stronger we are in Europe the stronger we in the United States''. Experts said that this argument would come under severe test once the Bush administration formally sought Britain's support for its missile defence programme which depends crucially on certain facilities on British soil.

Given the continental Europe's strong opposition to the programme, Britain would be forced to make a choice. ``Britain cannot go on eating its cake and having it too,'' one expert said stressing the point that Britain could not afford to take a pro- U.S. position on an issue that worries Europe so much and yet expect to be regarded as a European insider.

Britain would face a similar dilemma on the European rapid reaction force which Americans think is an attempt to undermine NATO. A strategic expert from U.S. interviewed on Sky TV made it clear that an independent force of the kind favoured by France would not be acceptable to the Bush administration raising a few problems for Britain which supports the European force but insists that it would not undermine NATO. What would be Britain's position in the event of Americans taking a tough anti- European force stand?

Britain, it is stated, would find it increasingly difficult to continue to sit on the fence and sooner than later it would have to stand up and be counted.

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Section  : International
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