
John C Hulsman: Britain should break with Obama’s failed approach to Iran – now revived by Biden
He bet that it would seek to become a normal country and the region would wane in strategic importance. He was wrong.
He bet that it would seek to become a normal country and the region would wane in strategic importance. He was wrong.
This list of allies and partners includes Australia, Israel, South Korea, Japan, Oman, Qatar and Singapore.
The decision to drop an approach maintained by both parties since 1979 could put British nationals overseas at risk.
We must learn the lesson that appeasing belligerent regional powers never pays off in the long run.
This move also stems from the primary objective of post-war British foreign policy: keeping in with the Americans.
In a region where there are multiple opposing camps, it navigates by dealing with any and everyone.
Re-calibrating policies to account for the reality of conflict and warfare today could not be more urgent.
The bottom line is that no-one has to make these dangerous journeys. We need to be crystal clear about that.
The UK needs a fresh, robust template. Central to it should be a differentiation between strategic and non-strategic areas.
You should not have to risk your life in a small boat. You should be able to apply at a British embassy and arrive on a plane.
The consequences for the international order have been debated for decades, but, in contrast, little attention has been paid to this area.
The world would see it for a ransom, whatever the technicalities. And think what Tehran’s terror-exporting regime would do with that cash.
Tehran is precipitously close to crossing the ultimate red-line. We can ill-afford to blink now.
Anti-corruption and cementing new treaties should take precedence over softer fashionable favourites.
A lot can be done through NATO structures like the Northern Group that brings together its members and partner countries.