The UK’s voice should be heard in Europe, but the prime minister’s crass speeches make that harder to achieve
Boris Johnson cannot complain about the lack of an invitation to the European summit that begins on Thursday when his foreign policy is founded on a belief that such gatherings are not worth attending.
It is true that Brexit doesn’t prevent the prime minister taking an active role in supporting Ukraine against Kremlin aggression. British military hardware is appreciated on the frontline. Mr Johnson can be in the loop of western diplomacy without a seat at the EU table. He will also be attending a Nato summit in Brussels on Thursday. In the Brexiter view, UK interests in Europe can be managed through the North Atlantic alliance and bilateral conversations with continental leaders.