The romanticizing over Britain’s exit from the European Union (EU) has has stalled over the past few months as the path to freedom from Brussels has been obstacle-ridden. Many thought the rise of Prime Minister Theresa May would see the goal’s end, but not according to Foreign Secretary Boris Johnson as a secret recording has been revealed.
On Friday, Johnson drew criticism from EU chief negotiator Michel Barnier after predicting a “meltdown” with Brexit negotiations, and implying Trump might handle them better.
Johnson revealed he was “increasingly admiring” of the American president. He even said, “Imagine Trump doing Brexit.”
“He’d go in bloody hard,” Johnson remarked. “There’d be all sorts of breakdowns, all sorts of chaos. Everyone would think he’d gone mad.”
“But actually you might get somewhere. It’s a very, very good thought,” Johnson explained.
Barnier, in typical euro-fashion, called the foreign minister’s contributions “always very stimulating.” Speaking from Brussels, Barnier also responded to accusations from other British “euro-sceptics” that the EU delegation was being too tough by warning that he would not be “intimidated by this form of blame game.”
Furthermore, May responded, while on a visit to Canada for the G& Summit, after Johnson’s thoughts of Trump by saying, “The Foreign Secretary has strong views on Brexit but so do I.”
Britain’s blonde bombshell and top diplomat also, according to a private conversation carried by BuzzFeed, revealed sensitive details of talks with the United States over North Korea and plans to counter Russian aggression, all the while musing about relations with China.
Yahoo News reports that during a conversation with conservative activists, Johnson quipped that the Brexit negotiations are, “More combative with Brussels.”
“You’ve got to face the fact there may now be a meltdown,” he said, ahead of a priority EU summit at the end of June.
He added, “Take the fight to the enemy – absolutely right. We need to – and we will.”
Johnson has also been highly critical of the London establishment, in particular Finance Minister Philip Hammond. He charged the Treasury with seeking to ensure that the finalizing of the Brexit move ushers in “as little change as possible.”
At a time when Brits waiting to leave to European establishment, becoming increasingly uncomfortable with government moves to stay closely aligned with Brussels, Johnson said there was a risk that Britain’s withdrawal “will not be the one we want.”
He criticized Prime Minister May saying, “Unless you have the guts to go for the independent (trade) policy, you’re never going to get the economic benefits of Brexit.”
Apart from British independence, Johnson also suggested the prime minister would create a “rapid response unit” to deal with Russian aggression, including with their relatively new cyber attacks. The plans are thought to be forwarded at the table at the G7 Summit, while both President Trump and new Italian Prime Minister Giuseppe Conte call for the Kremlin to be reinstated to the “G7+1” talks.
Johnson also revealed that U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo asked their British ally to utilize its nuclear expertise in helping North Korea dismantle its arsenal.
With China, Johnson emanated Trump-like sentiments as he said, “We need to engage with China diplomatically…but also recognize that they are our commercial rivals.
“And they will try to stiff us,” Johnson warned.
