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RUSI: US-UK relationship critical for ‘Asian century’

RUSI: US-UK relationship critical for ‘Asian century’

Professor Michael Clarke of the Royal United Services Institute (RUSI) thinktank, comments to the Today programme on the strategic defence and security review:

“The strategy is we intend to remain a global player, we intend to remain close to the US as a global player. The political classes seem to feel it in their bones that that is what we should do.

“We may be moving back into an era of great power competition. The argument is that we have a big stake in globalisation, in the rules of the game, and having everyone play by those Western rules.

“They are being challenged, this will be the Asian century and it’s coming upon us pretty quick. The US is the lead player in moderating the effect of that Asian century on the Western powers.

“We have a stake in staying close to the one remaining superpower that will be struggling for its influence of China, India and the emerging powers.

“Is Britain taken more seriously in Washington than anywhere else? Diplomats will tell you it is, but when you ask them to give an example, they struggle.

“In normal politics, [the UK-US relationship] doesn’t make that much difference. In crises, when the world falls into conflict this British-American relationship keeps making reappearances.”