Brexit: What Now?

On January 31, the long-awaited or long-feared Brexit took place: the United Kingdom left the European Union. What does Brexit mean to the UK, EU, and the rest of the world? Brexit experts from the Belfer Center’s Project on Europe and the Transatlantic Relationship and Future of Diplomacy Project shared their thoughts on this major event. Read their remarks below.

Douglas Alexander, Senior Fellow, Future of Diplomacy Project; Visiting Professor, King’s College, London; former UK Shadow Foreign Secretary:

“The EU without the UK will be smaller, poorer, and less influential on the international stage. The UK without the EU will soon discover the reality and the constraints of being a medium-sized power in a world increasingly shaped by rising regional powers.”

Nicholas Burns, Professor of the Practice of Diplomacy and International Relations; Faculty Chair, Project on Europe and the Transatlantic Relationship; former U.S. Ambassador to NATO:

“Brexit is a strategic mistake by Britain. The task now, however, is for the British people to implement it in such a way that does the least damage and that provides for an eventual rebirth of this still vital democratic country.”

Cathryn Clüver Ashbrook, Executive Director, Project on Europe and the Transatlantic Relationship; former Legislative Advisor, European Parliament and UK House of Commons:

“Despite its chagrin at Brexit, continental Europe needs the UK to succeed. In defense, in intelligence, for connected responses to the transnational challenges of the 21st century, the UK and its decisions going forward will matter enormously to its European neighbors. Even as it negotiates hard over the next eleven months, Brussels will be an odd ally in wanting the UK to hang together and prosper.”

Lord Peter Ricketts, former Fisher Family Fellow, Future of Diplomacy Project; Life Peer, House of Lords, United Kingdom; former UK National Security Adviser 2010–2012:

“The EU must learn to live with an ex-member which is also the largest military power in the neighborhood. Success would be pragmatic alignment on defense and security, as is already happening on foreign policy. Failure would be rhetoric about strategic autonomy masking disagreement about the EU’s global ambitions.”

Amanda Sloat, Fellow, Project on Europe and the Transatlantic Relationship; Senior Fellow, Center on the United States and Europe, Brookings Institution:

“Externally, the UK must establish a new role within Europe and address changing dynamics in the transatlantic alliance. As London embarks on trade talks with Brussels and Washington, it will struggle to secure comprehensive deals with both partners and will need to choose between their regulatory models.”

Learn more about the Project on Europe and the Transatlantic Relationship here.