'Perfidious Albion’ is a pejorative term for Britain. Its origins lie in post-French Revolutionary diplomacy, coined to describe alleged treachery, duplicity, and betrayal in foreign policy.
It implies that Britain prioritises self-interest over alliance and/or foreign policy commitments, and some are suggesting that it may be equally applicable today with regard to the UK’s feeble response to the US/Israel/Iran conflict.
It is quite understandable why people might feel this way. Let’s look at the litany of ‘betrayals’ and weasel-words from Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer and his Cabinet colleagues, which have taken place over the last few days.
First, and most obvious of all, was his decision – now partially rescinded- to deny the US use of certain British military bases for its attack on Iran. It comes as no surprise that this infuriated the Trump administration.
Despite rowing back on his initial stance, Starmer’s subsequent agreement that the bases could be used ‘for defensive purposes’ just rubbed salt in the wound.
Next is his totally inadequate riposte to the drone attacks on the UK’s Sovereign Base Areas (SBAs) in Cyprus. These represent direct attacks on British territory, and yet he still refuses to join in on US/Israeli attacks on the enemy, espousing only defensive measures instead.
In other words, he is ignoring established military doctrine and shooting at the arrows rather than the archer.
Our Middle East allies are right about Britain, but they are too late to the party - Lt Col Stuart Crawford | Getty Images
Even in that limited action, Britain has been found wanting. Cyprus has limited anti-air defences, and the one answer to the maiden’s prayer, RN Type 45 destroyer HMS Dragon, is still preparing to sail to the eastern Mediterranean and will not arrive – assuming fair winds and following seas – until next week. Plus, it has nothing to counter a ballistic missile attack should Iran or its proxies choose to use them.
Small wonder that the Prime Minister and the UK have come under criticism from Trump and sundry other allies. Once again, it’s a case of too little, too late.
The criticism, however, has not just been external. Inside Britain, some of the commentary has been excoriating. Henry Bolton, a former Army officer, Police officer and diplomat, said: “The Government has demonstrated a shocking lack of strategic acumen and literacy, a deeply concerning lack of leadership and a devastating lack of geopolitical grasp.”
Senior diplomat Ameer Kotecha resigned from the Foreign Office, claiming the government is being constrained on Cyprus and the Chagos Islands by strict interpretations of international law.
He stated: “It’s this constant focus on the peripheral and cuddly rather than a really relentless focus on the core of what the Foreign Office is meant to be there to do”.
And another said: “The key is: 'Anticipate.' The failure to do so in this case has been a shocking failure of judgement. But, unsurprising to be frank.”
The Times editorial today is brutal, calling Starmer a ‘military ignoramus’. On his performance in foreign policy to date, there will be few who can disagree.
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