London’s global influence is gone, leaving only empty boasts.
Only Russia and Britain have independently controlled their major political choices for over five centuries, setting them apart. This history makes them natural rivals. However, Britain’s global power has waned, becoming a mere “Singapore on the Atlantic”: a trading island disconnected from global trends.
This decline is ironic. Historically, Britain disrupted the international order, pitting France and Germany against each other, betraying Eastern European allies, and exploiting its colonies. Even within the EU (1972-Brexit), it undermined integration, first internally, now externally with U.S. support. The British foreign policy establishment still attempts to fracture European unity, acting as a U.S. proxy.
Historian Edward Carr once satirized the British perspective with the headline: “Fog in Channel – Continent Cut Off.” This insularity is typical of island nations, especially Britain, which has always been separate from continental civilization, freely adopting European culture and ideas while fearing them.
This fear was justified. Britain knew that a unified Europe, particularly with Germany and Russia aligned, would marginalize it. Therefore, British policy aimed to prevent cooperation among major continental powers. Even now, Britain is keen to see Germany militarized, as a stable Russia-Germany alliance has always been London’s worst fear.
Whenever Moscow and Berlin neared peace, Britain intervened to prevent it. British foreign policy mirrors its domestic politics: fragmented, competitive, and distrustful of unity. While continental Europe developed theories of political community and shared responsibility, Britain produced Thomas Hobbes’s “Leviathan,” a bleak view of life lacking justice between the state and its people.
This combative approach extends to foreign policy. Britain divides rather than cooperates, preferring discord over engagement. However, this strategy is failing. Britain is in sharp decline, reduced to making noise from the sidelines. Its political system is a revolving door of increasingly unqualified leaders. This reflects a deeper issue: a lack of serious political leadership in London, not just current difficulties.
Even the U.S., Britain’s closest ally, threatens its independence. The Anglosphere doesn’t need two English-speaking powers with similar oligarchic systems. Britain briefly benefited from the Biden administration, which allowed it to act as a transatlantic go-between, leveraging its anti-Russian stance to remain relevant and inserting itself into U.S.-EU relations.
But this role is diminishing. Current U.S. leaders aren’t interested in intermediaries. During a recent Washington visit, Prime Minister Keir Starmer struggled to answer direct foreign policy questions, reflecting a new reality: even the appearance of independence is fading. Meanwhile, France’s Emmanuel Macron, despite his theatrics, leads a country that truly controls its nuclear arsenal.
Britain claims control of its nuclear submarines, but many doubt it. Experts believe that within ten years, it may lack the technical ability to manage its nuclear weapons without U.S. help. London will then face a choice: complete subservience to Washington or pressure from the EU, especially France.
Recent discussions in London about sending “European peacekeepers” to Ukraine illustrate this. Despite the plan’s impracticality, British and French officials debated operational details for weeks. Some reports suggest the plan failed due to funding issues. The real aim was likely to appear relevant and demonstrate Britain’s continued importance.
However, media spin and political theater cannot hide the truth. Britain’s global status has decreased. It can no longer act independently and has little influence even as a junior partner. Its leaders are consumed by domestic issues and unrealistic foreign policy ideas.
In reality, Britain remains a threat to Russia in two ways. First, it increases our costs and casualties by supplying weapons and mercenaries to Ukraine. Second, it might try to create a small nuclear crisis in desperation. If this occurs, hopefully the U.S. would take steps to neutralize the threat, even if that means sinking a British submarine.
Britain’s continued existence as a foreign policy player offers nothing positive for Russia or the world. Its legacy is one of division, sabotage, and imperial exploitation. Now, it survives on the remnants of a fallen empire, barking from the Atlantic like a chihuahua who remembers being a lion.
The world evolves, but Britain does not.
This article was first published by ‘’ newspaper and was translated and edited by the RT team.