Donald Trump is set to undermine the UK following his contentious exit from the Paris climate agreement, an expert predicts. President Trump’s recent executive order reiterating the US withdrawal from the Paris accord is seen as a move that could strain global efforts to address climate change and further isolate the US from its allies, including the UK.
This decision by Trump, coming shortly after his second-term inauguration, mirrors his previous stance in 2017 when he first announced the US departure from the Paris agreement. The agreement aims to limit global warming to 1.5C above pre-industrial levels or, alternatively, to keep temperatures well below 2C above pre-industrial levels.
The executive order argues that the Paris accord and other international agreements do not align with US values and channel American funds to countries that may not warrant financial aid in the eyes of the American public. Trump emphasizes that instead of joining global agreements, the US should be a role model for other nations in achieving both economic and environmental goals.
Professor Inderjeet Parmar, Head of the Department of International Politics at City, University of London, believes that Trump’s withdrawal from the Paris climate agreement is a deliberate move to weaken the UK. He suggests that a potential trade deal with the US could lead to increased drug prices and greater involvement of private entities in the UK’s healthcare sector.
Furthermore, Trump’s push for higher military spending could impact the UK’s domestic spending plans, particularly concerning assistance to Ukraine. Andrew Rudalevige, a Professor of Government at Bowdoin College, warns that Trump’s stance on defense spending might burden countries like the UK in countering Russian threats and meeting NATO’s financial expectations.
Chancellor Rachel Reeves’ efforts to strengthen ties with China could face challenges due to Trump’s policies, which may seek to distance the US from China through sanctions and tariffs. Rudalevige also anticipates that Trump’s tariff policies could spark a new trade conflict, potentially inflating business costs for both the US and its trading partners.