Briefing Paper: Foreign Policy Implications of Brexit

This briefing paper examines the foreign policy implications of Britain's departure from the European Union (EU), known as Brexit. It analyzes the impact of Brexit on the UK's trade relations, access to EU institutions, and overall foreign policy strategy. The paper also explores the potential costs and benefits of leaving the EU for Britain, considering factors such as trade agreements, immigration, and security cooperation. The conclusion provides recommendations for the UK government to navigate the challenges and opportunities presented by Brexit in the context of its foreign policy.

Briefing Paper Question
Briefing paper on the foreign policy implications of Britain leaving the European
Union
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Table of Contents
01. Summary....................................................................................................................................3
02. The foreign policy of Britain.....................................................................................................4
03. Implications of BREXIT on the Britain Foreign Policy............................................................5
04. Costs and benefits of leaving EU for Britain.............................................................................7
5. Conclusion and recommendations...............................................................................................8
References........................................................................................................................................9
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Date:July 24, 2018.
Prepared by:Advisor of British Prime Minister
The topic of the briefing paper:Implications for the foreign policy of Britain leaving The
European Union with its cost and benefits.
01. Summary
This briefing paper has explained the foreign policy of the Britain which states the approach of
the nation towards foreign countries. Britain is the part of the EU from the year of 1973 and
made a huge contribution to the development and strengthening of the EU nations. This briefing
paper has explained different implications BREXIT (Britain leaving European Union). BREXIT
has become a challenge for Britain. This briefing paper has also explained the different cost and
benefits of BREXIT for the nation.
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02. The foreign policy of Britain
Foreign policy is a determined strategy of a nation to deal with foreign countries to manage
affairs and relations with them. The foreign policy is developed according to domestic
considerations. Diplomacy is the part of the foreign policy which works in the situation of wars,
alliances and international trade. Britain was the part of the EU from the year of 1973 and it has
managed positive relations with the EU nations to provide economic strengthening and
development by free trade in between the European Union members. The UK is a significant part
of the global trading country which has a huge dominance in the international trade. UK and EU
nations have much interdependence in the import and export business. In the year of 2013, it has
been analysed 48.5% of total export is made by UK was invested into the European Union
members.The key highlighting part is that UK has also dependent for products and other
resources which were imported from the EU member countries which were approximately 52%
of total import.This figure was example of the relations and positive foreign policy of Britain for
EU nations. Under the current foreign policy,Britain has increasingits business with BRICS
(Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa) to fulfill the needs of this group of countries. It
has been analyzedthat British trade is enhanced with these countries by 53% since 2007 (Wright,
2017).
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03. Implications of BREXIT on the Britain Foreign Policy
BREXIT has a key reason to make a new policy and upgrade the current foreign policy of the
UK for EU nations. Free trade behavior is used by the UK with the EU members who will be
changed under the current foreign policy of the UK. It is very challenging to make adjustments
in the current foreign policy of the UK according to the BREXIT. The different area as treasury,
home office, transport and DEFRA has a huge effect of BREXIT and these are engaged to
mitigate the effects and consequences due to departure from EU (Dhingra, et. al. 2017).
The departure of Britain from the European Union has made a huge effect on the foreign policy
and become challenging to keep the interest of the EU members in the UK to make continue
their trade with the UK. Ineffectiveforeign policy can be a reason for the UK forthe declinein the
trade and revenues for the country. BREXIT has linked with the economic sustainability of the
nation and it is significant for the government to maintain their trade from the import and export
of resources. Government interventions in the import and export trade of the country will support
to manage the economic growth and development of the country. It is essential for Britain to
manage its growth rate and GDP without any influence of exit from the European Union which
can help to manage their image and prove their decision in the right favor. Some of the key
implications are given below which are occurred due to BREXIT on the Britain Foreign policy –
Options for trade – It has developed a challenge in front of the government to manage their
foreign trade with other countries. It has been analyzed that approximately 48.5% of total export
was made for EU countries so now it is essential for the government to develop or find some
options which can be placed on the EU nations. Foreign trade is a part of theforeign policy so it
is essential for the government to make some proposals to invest their products ready to export in
the foreign countries. BRICS nations can be a strong option which can replace the EU nations in
the foreign policy. The government should use free trade policy with these nations to provide
economic strengthening and development (Pettinger, 2017).
Loss of access to EU foreign policy institution and resources–Departments which are working
under Britain’s foreign and security policy can face different constraints due to the departure of
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the UK from the EU.BREXIT will affectnegatively on the access of the EU level foreign security
policy and institutions. It is also a significant factor in which the UK government have to show
their interventions. The government has to develop a better policy which can fulfill this gap
which is generated due tothe departure of the UK from the EU. EU members have a Common
Foreign and Security Policy which can be accessed by any of the members. This policy has
provided a relief to the UK and enhances their armed force strength in the EU but due to the
decision of BREXIT the UK government cannon access this facility which has declined their
grip by armed force in Europe (Global Security, 2018).
Options for resources – BREXIT has developed as a challenge in front of the UK government.
Different products and resources needs are fulfilled in the UK from the EU members which were
imported by the government with the free trade policy of the EU nations. It has analyzed that
total import from EU nations was 52% which directly indicates that EU nations are fulfilling the
needs of resources and products of the UK. Now it has become a question in front of the
government to identify the options where they can import products and resources to accomplish
the needs of people (Dhingra and Sampson, 2016).
Sanctions –BREXIT has developed huge complications in front of the UK government to make
sanction in the current foreign policy. Different options have to be developed and accordingly
amended in the current foreign policy. The intervention of the government will create a
disruption in the formulation of the policy on the grounds. All of these changes are developed
and sanctioned by the UK government by considering the pros and cons of these amendments for
the whole UK context.
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04. Costs and benefits of leaving EU for Britain
BREXIT is an action which is taken by the former government which have some cost and
benefits for the British perspectives are given below –
Costs
Declaration of the market – It is essential for the UK to determine the market to stay after
BREXIT. It has to be declared by the government to determine their policy regarding for trade.
Completely cut from the EU will affect negatively on the current trade and other future policies
which are determined for the economic and infrastructural development.
Restrict to use EU common foreign and security policy –The BREXIT has made a huge impact
on the right of the UK on the common benefits provided by the EU nations. Now UK is not
authorizedto access these benefits which are the key cost for the UK (Vasilopoulou, 2016).
Immigration – It is occurred due to BREXIT action taken by the UK government. Many of the
people which have jobs in the EU nations are emigrating from the UK which is a loss of
resources for the nation.
Loss of relations – This is the key cost of which has emerged due to BREXIT of the UK. The
UK has positive relations with these countries which have helped in the economic and
infrastructural growth of the country which has negatively affected by eth exit of the UK from
the European Union.
Benefits
Norway Model –Britain can use the Norway model in which they can continue their business
within the EU member countries. It is effective for the country to keep their business relations
with these countries and also support sustains the economic and infrastructural development.
Restrict free trade – The UK can restrict free trade with the EU members by new foreign trade
policy. It will provide an opportunity to the UK to enhance their revenues by foreign countries
by considering EU members as a foreign country (Ottaviano, et. al. 2014).
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5. Conclusion and recommendations
It has been analysed that the UK government have to take BREXIT as an opportunity to enhance
their trade relations with the other countries. Reconstructing of foreign policy will support to
develop change according to the current economic and foreign relations situations. The UK
government have to develop their relationships with other foreign countries by completely
restricting free trade with the EU nations. Better adjustments have to implement in the foreign
policy to accomplish the needs of resources in the country.
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References
 Dhingra, S. and Sampson, T., 2016. Life after BREXIT: What are the UK’s options
outside the European Union?.
 Dhingra, S., Huang, H., Ottaviano, G., Paulo Pessoa, J., Sampson, T. and Van Reenen, J.,
2017. The costs and benefits of leaving the EU: trade effects. Economic Policy, 32(92),
pp.651-705.
 Global Security, 2018. United Kingdom - Foreign Policy [Online]. Available at;
https://www.globalsecurity.org/military/world/europe/uk-forrel.htm [Accessed on 24 Jul. 18].
 Ottaviano, G.I.P., Pessoa, J.P., Sampson, T. and Van Reenen, J., 2014. Brexit or Fixit?
The trade and welfare effects of leaving the European Union.
 Pettinger, T., 2017. Economics Help, Cost and benefits of EU in perspective [Online].
Available at; https://www.economicshelp.org/blog/20934/euro/cost-and-benefits-of-eu-in-
perspective/ [Accessed on 24 Jul. 18]
 Vasilopoulou, S., 2016. UK Euroscepticism and the Brexit referendum. The Political
Quarterly, 87(2), pp.219-227.
 Wright, N., 2017. Brexit and the Re-making of British Foreign Policy. UCL European
Institute Working Paper (Available at: http://www. ucl. ac.
uk/european-institute/analysis/2017-18/wrightbrexit-foreign-policy).
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