UK can still be strong after Brexit

singapore — Britain can still punch above its weight globally even after it exits the European Union, Foreign Secretary Jeremy Hunt said on Wednesday ahead of a key parliamentary vote at home.

Although Britain is neither a superpower nor in possession of an empire, the country still has the military might, economic muscle and diplomatic connections to play a major role in world affairs, Hunt said in Singapore.

In a speech outlining Britain’s global role after Brexit, Hunt said his country would remain an influential global player independent of the EU, even as he warned that failure to reach a deal would “cause disruption that could last some time”.

While Britain should not overestimate its strength, it should not underestimate it either, he said at a diplomatic forum.

“We are not a superpower and we do not have an empire,” he said. “But we do have the fifth biggest economy in the world, the second biggest military budget in Nato, the third-biggest overseas aid budget, one of the two largest financial centres, highly-effective intelligence services and a worldclass diplomatic network, including permanent membership of the UN Security Council.”

Hunt said post-Brexit Britain could learn from Singapore’s economic model, especially the tiny city-state’s long-term investment in education, infrastructure and the push to forge trade ties spanning the world. —