How will Brexit affect the EU and NATO?
Guy Stewart
Cranleigh School
Literary Review
The impact of Brexit on the EU by Charles Grant
Charles Grant talks about how leaving the EU will weaken the countries in the EU that want the EU to be integrated to a greater extent Grant says “Brexit will weaken those forces in the EU that favour greater integration” Charles Grant 24 June 2016. The fact that one of the strongest countries leaving the EU will also mean that Germany will become even more dominant ruling the EU. He says that this will cause a greater division among the nations still part of the EU. He says that this may not even cause any nations to leave the EU but it may cause a greater distrust which is vital to keep the EU working. He also says that the US are worried that without the UK to watch over the EU Germany will relax the sanctions placed on Russia. He then talks about how Theresa May will deal with free movement saying she will agree to a “free trade agreement (FTA)” Charles Grant 24 June 2016. Charles Grant is a reliable source because this area is one of his expertise and he is also a highly respected writer.
Brexit Consequences: For UK, EU and US by Kimberly Amadeo.
This article lays out why the UK wanted to leave the EU and some of the context of the situation. Amadeo concludes that Brexit is going to be bad for the EU. Kimberly Amadeo feels that we should go through a soft Brexit as it will be result in a better deal. She then outlines how Theresa May’s snap election meant that she lost her majority and therefore her power to make decisions in Parliament. She then goes on to say that the main gain for Britain would be that we will be able to control the flow of people coming into the country but it will also mean a slower growth. Amadeo also says that Brexit could mean that Britain loses Scotland. She says that Brexit could cause the EU to dissolve as anti-immigrant parties grow in popularity. Kimberly Amadeo also says that many countries feels this will help the EU as Britain voted against many motions that other countries supported. She outlines that the dollar has raised in price which will only damage the US as it means investments will be more expensive for foreign countries. Kimberly Amadeo is reliable because she has published 800 articles and 2 books and is also a respectable business analysis.
Cost of Brexit: The impact on business and the economy in 2017 and beyond. By Shafi Musaddique.
This article agrees with Kimberly Amadeo. Musaddique talk about how leaving the EU will affect the economy and many business basically saying that the EU is going to be positively affected because many business’ will move from Britain to the EU. He tells us that economic growth has slowed to one of the worse in the G7 being before the referendum the highest in the countries. He says that families in Britain are going through the worst strain since the 1950s and he says that investment has slowed since the referendum. Shafi talks about banking saying that Britain has lost many jobs in this sector and that many banks have suggested that they will be leaving the Uk and moving to mainland Europe. Musaddique believes that Britain is going to be affected badly by Brexit and gives evidence for this but mostly talks about how many business’ are going to move to mainland Europe which means that the EU will be affected positively. Shafi Musaddique may not be the most reliable source as most of his publicity comes through social media although the fact he writes for the Independant does add to his reliability.
How Brexit hurts NATO: Stefano Stefanini.
Stefano Stefanini believes that Brexit will mean that NATO is only going to be weakened by Brexit. He talks about how there are two main reasons to be concerned about Brexit’s effect on NATO. He says that the first reason to be concerned about Brexit is because of Europe’s far right parties who also want to see the EU broken apart and there are many of the Eastern European countries who sympathise with Putin. Secondly is the uncertain future of Britain’s foreign policies and the role of Britain as a linchpin between the EU and America. This means that the US will ask for higher spending on defence. He says that the,“Atlantic community united will fall on American shoulders.” Stefano Stefanini is a reliable source especially in this area because he is the former permanent representative of Italy in NATO meaning his expertise is on this subject making him a reliable source.
Brexit: UK could lose its most senior military position in Nato to France after departure from EU
Lizzie Dearden.
Lizzie Dearden believes that NATO is going to have lots of senior British jobs replaced because of Brexit. She says that “Britain could lose the most senior military position it holds in Nato after Brexit.” She believes that France will be trying to take the senior position within NATO and that they are trying to appeal to the US to gain the high command. She points out that this shows us that NATO is not entirely separate from the Brexit discussions and that it should not be treated as such. Although she says many of these things she concludes by saying that a NATO official confirms that Britain will be keeping the job. Lizzie Dearden is a reliable source as she writes for a highly respectable newspaper called the Independent which has a good reputation and has written many articles for them although not all of them are very serious .
How will Brexit affect the EU. By Al Jazeera.
This website believes that by leaving the EU Britain and the whole of Europe will become more split racially and politically. They believe that the decision to leave the EU will have a negative effect on Europe socially as well as economically. The main reason they gives for this argument is the killing of Jo Cox the first MP to be killed in Britain for 25 years. They says that this was caused by the referendum that was only a week away, they tell us that the assassin shouted “Britain first, this is for Britain,” throughout the attack giving proof that this attack was caused by the referendum. This they believe is only a sign of things to come. This news source is not very reliable as it does what many different country’s tell it to do and is very corrupt.
Discussion
Brexit can only be bad for the EU and that NATO will not be greatly affected by Brexit but Brexit is going to weaken ties within NATO and it could cause a loss of faith among the member nations that weaken the organizations efficiency.
Kimberly Amadeo also says that many will believe that Britain leaving the EU is a good thing as Britain voted against many of the motions that the rest of the countries all supported. This may be good for the EU but although they get rid of a dissenter they will also lose a member nation that can mediate between the EU and the US. This is shown by Stefano who says that the EU will have to set up new ties with the US but by doing this the value of Britain to the US and the EU will have decreased.
The EU will also be losing lots of trade with Britain, if the EU decide not to allow free trade with Britain then they will be losing goods and money that can only hurt them and Britain. This could hurt the EU more than Britain as Britain could strengthen ties with the US who will have companies on both sides of the Atlantic.
You must not forget the social impacts of Brexit as well as the economic effects, this is shown by the Al Jazeera news, they say that leaving the EU will cause only more xenophobia than before the referendum and gives multiple examples of attacks and hate crimes such as the killing of Jo Cox and the riots that happened in Germany. Kimberly Amadeo agrees by saying that the EU could dissolve and Stefano Stefanini says that because Britain has left the EU many anti-immigrant parties will now grow bolder and many will gain popularity and these parties will push for their country to leave the EU and this could drive the hate crimes that are already growing.
Many small Eastern European countries may push to leave the EU because of Britain leaving the EU. Stefano says that they are likely to leave as many of them still have links to Russia and would feel they could have safety with Putin rather than the Western world. The economic strain that will be put on Europe and the mostly on Eastern Europe who depend on the aid of countries like Britain, Germany and France may cause them to leave as they start to see Russia as a richer and more beneficial benefactor