Can Britain Lead Europe When It Can Barely Lead Itself?
The Council on Geostrategy urges Britain to assume primary responsibility for Euro-Atlantic deterrence as the US pivots to the Indo-Pacific. This article argues Britain lacks the industrial base, military depth, and political coherence for this role. With the British Army at 73,000 troops (smallest since Napoleon), manufacturing at 9% of GDP, and defence spending at 2.3% of GDP, the UK cannot afford to become Europe's security guarantor. The piece critiques "machinepolitik" nostalgia, warning that volunteering for this burden creates moral hazard, lets Europe free-ride, and risks strategic overextension Britain cannot manage.
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