The United Kingdom’s strategy In Sub-Saharan Africa after Brexit

 
PIIS032150750012795-6-1
DOI10.31857/S032150750012795-6
Publication type Article
Status Published
Authors
Occupation: Junior Researcher
Affiliation: Primakov National Research Institute of World Economy and International Relations, Russian Academy of Sciences (IMEMO)
Address: , 23, Profsoyuznaya Str., Moscow 117997, Russian Federation
Journal nameAsia and Africa Today
EditionIssue 12
Pages27-33
Abstract

Given the lack of resources for participating in world political processes alone, the United Kingdom seeks to use financial leverage, “soft power” and its system of alliances to influence political processes in different regions of the world after Brexit, thereby strengthening its position. Despite Africa being secondary in the new foreign policy strategy «Global Britain», after the withdrawal from the European Union, the UK seeks to deepen economic and military-political cooperation with states in Sub-Saharan Africa, strengthening its reputation and subjectivity. There are 5 areas of cooperation for that: economic growth, Sahel, security, climate change, demography. The main focus is on cooperation with Nigeria, Ethiopia, Kenya, South Africa, and the African Union. After Brexit the UK will strive to enter into new political and economic agreements with countries in the region, focusing on humanitarian cooperation and development. Among non-regional partners are China, the US, France and the EU.

 

 

However, a new strategy is in the process of development and faces a raw of obstacles, including foreign policies confines after Brexit and rivalry from non-regional actors. The conditions for future relations with the EU are not defined, a trade agreement hasn’t still concluded. It is not clear whether the UK will continue to participate in the missions of the CSDP. All this will affect the subjectivity of the UK in the region. Also, the strategy itself is not sufficiently structured and worked out. All aspects of the new approach to sub-Saharan Africa will likely be developed after the end of the Brexit transition, that is, after 2020. The consequences of the COVID-19 pandemic and recession in the global economy are also unpredictable for African-British relations. 

KeywordsUnited Kingdom, Brexit, «Global Britain», Sub-Saharan Africa, T.May, B.Johnson
Received06.06.2020
Publication date09.12.2020
Number of characters23828
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