I agree entirely with the sentiment of David Lidington MP's article regarding the necessity of engaging with the rapidly-expanding economies of the Gulf States. Whilst I have immense reservations about the human rights situation in this region - particularly the abject lack of personal and political freedom in Saudi Arabia, the jailing of government opponents in Oman and Kuwait’s lack of affirmative action on the issue of human trafficking - the British government would indeed be foolhardy to ignore the enormous opportunities offered to the UK by our "old friends" in the Persian Gulf.
I have to give it to Tony Blair; despite his tardiness in advocating abolition of reform of the EU's damaging trade barriers, he at least appeared to understand the importance of engaging with developing markets and promoting the future of the United Kingdom as an international trading power.
Speaking to friends around the world over the past few weeks, what our American friends pithily descibe as "the buzz" has been entirely focused on "that new French President", Nicolas Sarkozy. Few have even heard of "that new Brit", Gordon Brown.
Agree or - as in my case - disagree with the general direction in which the Sarkozy Presidency appears to be heading, the new French President does appear to be genuinely committed to reclaiming France’s diminished influence on the international stage - at the expense of the British. This is as true in the Gulf region as it is in Washington DC.
With the UK's position as Europe's leading voice in international affairs at serious risk, where is our Prime Minister?
The briefest of Google News searches - admittedly not the best judge of an international leader’s performance - finds Gordon Brown's "economic reputation flagging", highlights his refusal to allow MPs a modest pay rise and party finance woes as the top results whilst the French President is encouraging the expansion of the G8 to include India, an end to the Colombian hostage crisis and plans to tackle terrorism in Pakistan.
In terms of promoting the UK on the international stage, Brown isn't Stalin. Despite his disastrous domestic policies, he appears to lack the vision to create even a structure as misguided as COMECON. He's isn't Mr Bean either. He's the Invisible Man.
Recent Comments