After the Divorce

The Conservatives, under the leadership of Boris Johnson, had already made up their minds to abandon the EU. Soon after their sweeping victory, Boris Johnson remarked, “We will get Brexit on time by January the 31st.”He continued to severely criticise the EU for the many ills faced by Britain and said that by leaving the European Union, the UK would take back control of its trade, laws, migration system, border, money and delivering on the democratic mandate of the people.

Given the large majority the Conservatives have in the House of Commons, they will now easily get Brexit done. All this leads to an important question: what could be the implications of Brexit for the UK as well as the EU once the UK is out of the regional bloc?
As far as the EU is concerned, Brexit may have dire repercussions for the economic bloc. First and foremost, British withdrawal will substantially weaken the EU on the political and diplomatic fronts. This might render the regional bloc unable to face resurgent Russia in the backyard as the EU is to lose its Franco-British Defence axis which has been largely instrumental in discouraging Moscow from any expansion towards Eastern Europe. President Donald Trump's inclination to shift American boots from Europe to the Asia-Pacific region has already created myriad security issues for the crisis-ridden EU. Moreover, a large number of European workers could also lose their jobs in Britain. More importantly, if Britain makes phenomenal economic strides after leaving the bloc, other members could also follow suit, creating a domino effect and subsequently pushing the bloc to the cusp of disintegration.

The British divorce with the bloc could well bring about daunting economic, political, diplomatic and security challenges for the EU.

On the other hand, the British will largely benefit from Brexit. Once the European workers start leaving London, this would create for them (the Brits) thousands of vacant jobs and seats in educational institutions. They would also realize the dream of a powerful Britain playing the role of a balancer and their hegemony in the contemporary anarchic world. In the same vein, Britain would be able to chart an independent, robust and proactive foreign policy free from the dictates of Brussels.

More importantly, the UK would be able to hammer out a comprehensive strategy regarding refugees coming from the war-torn Middle East and poverty-stricken Africa. This could, therefore, immensely help Britain strengthen its security from 'lone wolves' who have been inspired by Islamist militant groups.

However, in the post-Brexit period, the British could also face many restrictions and issues in terms of getting visas and visiting other European countries. Additionally, the UK's trade with the members of the EU is also likely to experience a downturn. It looks like the UK will have to cut its developmental outlays and shift more and more of its resources to foster its security in the post-withdrawal period.

To conclude, Boris Johnson’s re-election is an incentive for Britain to quit the EU. The British divorce with the bloc could well bring about daunting economic, political, diplomatic and security challenges for the EU. Though the UK faces some challenges, yet the success of Brexit will largely benefit the country and help it devise independent policies concerning trade, refugees and security. If adequately managed, the post-Brexit period would provide the UK with a marvellous opportunity to again emerge as an assertive and dominant power on the world stage.