A Federal Europe would be disadvantageous to American interests

In 1942 Nicholas J. Spykman, a Dutch-American geostrategist,  argued that a United Europe will be disadvantageous under any circumstances. He preferred a fragmentation of power among states within Europe as more advantageous to American interests.

Therefore, Spykman was opposed strongly to the development of a European Federation, even it to came about peacefully or democratically. Of course, he also opposed to both German and Russian domination of Europe. In his book, "America's strategy in world politics: the United States and the balance of power", which gives us a framework to understand Post Cold War world, he wrote "A Federal Europe would constitute an agglomeration that would completely alter our significance as an Atlantic power and greatly weaken our position in the Western Hemisphere".

Since 1970s it has been easy to see that the more united Europe become, the greater its tensions with the U.S.. And in the early 1990s America policymakers were so happy so see the fragmentation of both the Soviet empire and the former Yugoslavia. They also agreed with the split of Czechoslovakia, which occurred in 1993.

Nowadays Americans are still fearing a European Super-State with its single foreign policy, as it would be a competitor of the U.S.. In this perspective, the President elected Donald Trump said that Brexit will be a great thing for U.K., and he hopes other E.U. countries will do the same. Although  Spykman opposed to the development of a Federation of states within the old  continent more than 70 years ago, the U.S. is still trying to fragment Europe.

In the meanwhile,  encouraged by the U.S. presidential election and U.K.'s Brexit  referendum results, Europe's far right leaders get together in Germany this month. Many of those anti-europeanism leaders face important election in the course of this year.

  

E.U. trade is vital to Scottish companies

Since British people voted to leave the E.U., by 52% to 48%, the unity of the U.K. has been under strain. On June 23, Scotland voted "Remain" by 62 % to 38 %, while 55,8 % in Northern Ireland voted to stay in the E.U. and 44,2 % "Leave". In particular, people who live in those two peripheral countries of the U.K. disagree with the exit from the custom union, as traders fear Brexit will see Scotland and Northern Ireland lose access to the E.U.'s single market.

In reality, according to the UK Government economic service, imports from Europe to the U.K. account for only 7 % of E.U. exports, whereas the exports Britain sends from its territory to Europe account 44 % of the total exports.

British Government's plans call for U.K. to officially leave the E.U. by May 2018, and underline that the U.K. "is leaving the E.U.", not Europe. And the U.K. will not sign easily new partnerships with E.U. members, considering that, since June 23, European policy makers have been underlining that whoever decides to leave "that family" cannot expect all obligations to be omitted while keeping its privileges. On the one hand, Brexit allows the U.K. to implement a better control along its borders in terms of immigration. On the other hand, that referendum means the exit from a successfully trading area.

In this perspective, it's easy to see that Scotland and Northern Ireland will behave on the basis of their self interest. Scotland's Prime Minister, Nicola Sturgeon, plans to stay in the single market, as the European association of countries trading with each other without restrictions or tariffs  is vital to Scottish companies.