As Trump unsettles NATO and offends allies, Simon Hoare MP looks at the strained special relationship and why the West must remain united against Putin
Many people will have had a hope that the second Trump administration might have been different from his first. That a greater sense of calmness and ‘grown up’ politics would be to the fore … Any vestige of that hope was shattered in the Oval Office and the disgraceful treatment of the Ukrainian President.
If that is how this Administration treats its allies, then God help us all.
Of course, this came hot on the heels of the vice president’s sermon on free speech and democratic liberty delivered at the Munich Security Conference. An arrogant speech? Undoubtedly. Ill-advised? 100 per cent! Cowardly? Without a shadow of doubt.
I say cowardly because I do not think he would have the spine to make the same speech in Beijing, Tehran, Moscow or Pyongyang. There is a lot of conspiracy theory speculation circulating currently concerning Trump’s status with the Russian authorities. I am not a conspiracy theorist.
What I do know, however, is that with the President’s tactic of let’s-unsettle-NATO-and-offend-our-neighbours-and-allies, the only person who benefits, in geopolitical terms, is Dictator Putin. Russia always benefits when the West is divided and uncertain.
We are certainly that at the moment.
It’s not me, it’s you
We will all be familiar with the idea of the Special Relationship between the UK and US. It has been strong and enduring. It can be, as it has been, special without there being continued agreement on every subject (for example the Suez, Grenada and – initially – the Falklands). It does, however, need to be based on an enduring trust: and that I believe is now eroded significantly.
Many of us recognise that classic relationship conversation—“we want different things,” “we’ve changed,” “we’re not who we were X years ago.” Let’s hope it’s not the case, but the UK and US may be heading for a similar heart-to-heart. Just because it’s lasted doesn’t mean it’s built to last forever.
Many North Dorset homes and hearts were opened to Ukrainians following Putin’s unprovoked and unwarranted invasion. I well remember seeing the tsunami of generosity at Sturminster’s Exchange as I helped pack donations of clothes, food and bedding. It was deeply heartwarming.
It remains as clear today as it did those three long years ago: to end the fighting is easy – Russia has only to withdraw her troops and respect the sovereign boundaries of Ukraine. Contrary to the Trump ‘philosophy’, the moves cannot only come from Ukraine, and I cheered when President Zelensky stood firm against the White House Bully Boys.
The House of Commons has responded magnificently (with the exception of the Trump/Putin hero-worshipping Reform): a laser-like focus on stronger defence policies, increased defence spending, total support for the Ukrainian people and vocal opposition to the Russian regime.
Our Prime Minister (with whom I have many policy disagreements) has led the international response, carrying on that role which his predecessors had. As we move forward he will have both my support and that of my Party in pursuit of the core principles we all share.
Failure to do so would play into Putin’s hands and humanity would be the loser.
Simon will be holding an advice surgery in Gillingham on Friday, 14th March at 3pm. For more information and to make an appointment, please call 01258 452585 or email simon.hoare.mp@parliament.uk.
