Sir John Major has issued a stark warning regarding the threats facing democracy, mainly as the United States appears to retreat from its prominent position on the global stage.
The former prime minister expressed to the BBC that US President Donald Trump‘s approach to American “isolation” is fostering a power vacuum, potentially empowering nations such as Russia and China.
Sir John, who served as Prime Minister from 1990 to 1997, expressed concerns that the progress achieved since the fall of the Soviet Union is now being undone. He stated there is “no doubt” that Russia will likely expand its military actions soon.
He remarked that the rise of “ugly nationalism” is contributing to a “very unsettled time.”
European leaders are gearing up for an emergency summit on Monday to address the ongoing war in Ukraine following recent comments made by officials.
Officials from the United States and Russia are set to initiate peace talks soon amid rising concerns that European nations, particularly Ukraine, may be excluded from the discussions.
Sir John has dismissed US Vice-President JD Vance’s recent critique of Europe’s stance on free speech, indicating that such comments would be more appropriately aimed at the governments in Moscow or Beijing.
During an interview with BBC Radio 4’s The World This Weekend, he remarked, “It’s extremely odd to lecture Europe on the subject of free speech and democracy at the same time as they’re cuddling [Russian President Vladimir] Putin.”In Russia under Mr Putin’s regime, dissenters face dire consequences, often vanishing, meeting untimely deaths, seeking refuge abroad, or, in rare instances, suffering fatal accidents from high places in Moscow.
Sir John remarked that the world is undergoing significant changes, suggesting that these transformations may not be favourable to Western interests.
He stated, “A significant number of the advancements achieved in recent years, following the collapse of the Soviet Union, are currently being undone, and we are witnessing a notably aggressive Russia once more in Ukraine.”Should they succeed with their initiative in Ukraine, they would likely expand their efforts to other regions soon. Democracy has experienced a modest decline over the past 18 years. An unsettling nationalism is on the rise, primarily fuelled by the intolerant right. The current period is marked by significant uncertainty.
The former leader of the Conservative Party, who oversaw a significant upheaval in the UK economy, expressed understanding for the difficulties currently confronting Chancellor Rachel Reeves. However, he suggested that the international landscape necessitates increased funding for defence.
“It is quite simple to make assertions from outside the government, claiming, ‘I would implement this and allocate all this funding’.”The speaker emphasised the necessity of significantly increasing defence spending, highlighting it as a top priority to be addressed as soon as it becomes feasible.
In a recent appearance on the BBC’s Sunday with Laura Kuenssberg programme, Business Secretary Jonathan Reynolds emphasised the necessity for the UK and Europe to address US calls for increased contributions to their “collective defence” amid rising “greater threats”.
The government has announced plans to increase defence spending from 2.3% to 2.5% of the nation’s economic output, although a specific timetable for this increase has not been provided.
Reynolds downplayed the perceived divisions between the United States and its allies regarding the resolution of the Ukraine conflict, asserting that there remains “still a great deal of common ground.”
In recent years, Sir John has publicly addressed several pressing issues, notably Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine that began in 2022.
In the wake of the war’s onset, he, alongside former prime minister Gordon Brown, joined a group of signatories advocating for a Nuremberg-style trial for Vladimir Putin, seeking accountability for alleged war crimes related to his actions in Ukraine.
