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... s diplomacy meant that sterling would be the currency for small countries that can not play a role in the global market. We can conclude from this that Britains foreign policy was still based on trying to dominate weaker countries as much as it can do in a way or another. Middle East was vital for British economy because of the oil and trade flow.
In the mid 1960 s London focused on two security problems one of which was the need to deter an Iraqi invasion of Kuwait. Britains ability to act in Middle East relied on bases in the Mediterranean: Cyprus, Malta, Gibraltar and Libya. 1960 s covered Mediterranean troubles for Britain. Cyprus gained its independence from British dominance in 1960 after exhaustive negotiations between the United Kingdom, as the colonial power, and Greece and Turkey, the cultural 'motherlands' for the two communities on Cyprus. Britain could only retain its bases in Cyprus but the hegemonic power was lost, yet the British Government mentioned that they would continue to support Cyprus economically. In the case of Malta after a short period of political instability due to the Malta Labour Party's unsuccessful attempt at Integration with Britain, Malta was granted independence on September 21, 1964. A defense agreement signed soon after Independence so that Britain could maintain bases but this didnt change the fact that Malta became independent from Britain.
Britain was still trying to preserve its strategic advantages in Mediterranean. On 25 th June 1961 the Iraqi dictator Abd al-Qarim Qassem unilaterally announced that Kuwait was to be considered Iraqi territory and offered to liberate the inhabitants of Kuwait. On the following day some Iraqi forces began massing along the border to Kuwait. However the Iraqi military was by far nowhere near the strength it would reach in later years and most of the troops had to make a long march from Baghdad down to the southern border of the country. Therefore the Iraqi built-up was very slow.
Britain intervened in the situation and sent message to Qassem saying that if he doesnt leave Kuwait, Britain would remove him from power. Kuwait then joined the Arab League, which denied Iraq's claim; Iraq withdrew its army. Border problems during 1960 s were significant; one example was the Indians and Chinese War in 1962. They were having border disputes. The Chinese have two major claims on what India deems its own territory. One claim, in the western sector, is on Aksai Chin in the northeastern section of Ladakh District in Jammu and Kashmir.
Unable to reach political accommodation on disputed territory along the 3, 225 -kilometer-long Himalayan border, the Chinese attacked India on October 20, 1962. China was holding nuclear weapons by the time and this fact threatened Indian people and they asked help from the British government, Britain proclaimed that they would extend their nuclear protection to India. Since the Cold War was more of a strategic war, nuclear weapons had important roles in shaping the relations of the countries. Britain was also trying to keep up with the nuclear trends and it actually became secure, had trident submarines which were carrying nuclear weapons, the Polaris Missile. Economic reasons were influential over the British foreign diplomacy. By the mid 1960 s, sterling pound lost value, Britain tied close economic and thus diplomatic relations with Germany, and they bought German marks to deposit in British banks.
Besides Germany a system called Bretton Woods was established by the industrial states, its goal was to perform financial connections and help the member states commercial. All of these events were founding necessary foreign policies, linking Britain to the rest of the world. Britain have always had an intention to be a guard for Europe and after it started to regain power and stabilize itself post cold war, Britain had a European focus. In 1973 Britain joined the European Common Market. Aside from getting closer to European states, Britain never wanted to lose its special relationship status with the U. S.
Even if these two states have their own goals, priorities, and responsibilities; yet they never fell apart and they keep cooperating with each other. On one side gaining power once again, becoming truly European, advancing nuclear powers, nevertheless Britain had conflicts in Northern Ireland which had always been a domestic problem for the motherland. It was obvious that Britain would no longer be a colonial power with the lost of Yemen in 1967, yet would be an industrial, effective power in European continent. In order to be powerful it was vital for Britain to gain stability and capabilities economically. This was a hard phase as in the years 1973 - 4 Britain was facing chronic budget deficit so it had to borrow money from the IMF. Britain found it essential to integrate and participate in European programs, and be effective in European domain.
Britain actually became a member in the European Community in 1973 and this altered the context of British-West German relations. Yet this integration didnt fundamentally alter the nature of the relationship. The priority of Britain was still based on its ties with the U. S. One example to prove the close ties between the U. S and Britain was obvious when Britain helped the U.
S. by building their forces on Diego Garcia, an island in Indian Ocean, and by allowing the U. S. to use it in order to maintain stability and project power in the region. By the year 1979 Margaret Thatcher came into power as Prime Minister of Britain.
During this era, she and Ronald Reagan had close relationship. In foreign relations she maintained special relationship with the United States. She had certain beliefs on the issue of German Reunification; she was concerned about the fact that a united Germany is bound to destroy the balance of power in Europe and was therefore bad for Britain. Thatchers impact on foreign policy and international affairs was undeniable.
She re-established the political stability, her dealing with the European Community and Soviet Union enhanced Britains image. She believed in an enlarged market and in the importance of European diplomatic cooperation. Following Thatcher, John Major became the Prime Minister of Britain. During his era Britain supported the efforts in Balkans; 1992 - 95 Bosnia; 1998 - 99 Kosovo; bomb targets in Serbia; breakdown of Yugoslavia were some of them. As the events and conflicts in the globe changes over time the concerns about aggressive Germany, communist Russia, or Cold War switched with present problems such as terrorism. Britain acts as a major fighter.
Tony Blair is the current Prime Minister of Britain and since the 2005 bombings in London foreign policy about the war on terrorism is promoted by Blair. Bush and Blair dont have as special relationship as Reagan and Thatcher had but their ties are still very important. Britain is now playing a European role but the relationship of the United States and Britain will continue as long as there is no single European army. Its is likely that Britain will focus engaging in lucrative contacts, defense deals, and immigration policy that allows foreign scientists to aid in Britains defense.
I also believe that Britain will follow focusing on economic diplomacy in the European arena and security diplomacy in overseas. Other foreign policies that Britain will seek are on energy policy, maritime strategy, scientific and environmental researches, and cultural preservation. BIBLIOGRAPHY Class notes Cross II, C. F. (2000, March 5). The Dragon Lady Meets the Challenge. Retrieved December 12, 2005, from web Indo-China War of 1962 (2004, April 27).
Retrieved December 12, 2005, from web 1962. htm Maclean, D. (1970). British Foreign Policy. New York: Stein and Day No Agreement Yet on Bases In Cyprus. (1960, January 15).
The Times. Possible Result of Egypt Action. (1956, November 10). The Times. Young, J.
W. (2003). International Policy (Vol. 2). Manchester: Manchester University Press.
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Research essay sample on British Foreign Policy Since 1945
