Britain has done it again. The once mighty empire, now a third-rate power that battles Islamist takeover of its society, depends on the United States for security and fights with France over fish, hasn’t let go of two things. Delusion of grandeur and proclivity for mischief.
Both the traits were on recent display. A few days back Brits took umbrage at JD Vance calling them a “random nation”. Though the American vice-president issued a denial that he was referring to Britain, nobody was convinced. Outraged Brits stomped their feet and clutched at their pearls, maybe because they suspected Vance was not far from the truth. Irrelevance kills.
The second trait was on display Wednesday evening when the Indian foreign minister’s security was allowed to be breached by the London coppers who took on the role of mute spectators as sloganeering Khalistani thugs demonstrated outside the Chatham House building where S Jaishankar was taking part in a panel discussion.
Imagine the implications.
The external affairs minister is on an official trip to the UK from March 4-9. He has already met the British prime minister, Keir Starmer, and foreign secretary David Lammy to strengthen UK-India Comprehensive Strategic Partnership. The aim of the visit is to “supercharge” trade talks.
Britain, now ruled by the Labour Party, is pursuing a free-trade deal with India, talks for which were recently relaunched. Both sides are also focusing on jointly combatting trafficking and extremism, as well as “fostering mutual economic growth, technological innovation, and collaboration on global challenges.” Two new Indian consulates are coming up in Belfast and Manchester.
Amid all these positive developments and ‘friendly’ vibes, it is strange that British authorities failed to provide adequate security to the foreign minister of one of its most consequential partners on whom a post-Brexit Britain is banking on for market access and continued economic growth. Its economic prospects might be bleak, its society might be riven with tension over immigration and creeping Islamism but London’s habit of playing games dies hard.
Content retrieved from: https://www.firstpost.com/opinion/severe-breach-of-jaishankars-security-in-london-by-khalistani-goons-points-to-britains-complicity-13869420.html.
