Thread by @jamesmb

There's so much going on here it's difficult to know where to start!

But start we must.

So, remember when the Brexiters said #Brexit was all about sovereignty & being free? Well, turns out America will decide your policies. You have no veto. Or vote. 1/8 telegraph.co.uk/business/2019/…

Secondly, Britain and the US are both members of the Five Eyes security alliance. Trump's administration would have shared their intel on #Huawei with the UK.

It is very telling that Britain did not buy in to Trump's anti-Huawei narrative that it poses a #security risk.

2/8

Trump's position was already undermined when he had said that @Huawei could be part of a trade deal with #China - apparently ignoring the "fact" that it is a #security risk. If it was such a risk, it would never be allowed to trade in the US. 3/8

link.medium.com/Fkj3DRSgjY

I have long believed that #Huawei is just a pawn in Trump's trade tantrum with #China. This is 100% #GeoPolitics and 0% #security.

4/8

link.medium.com/5v4oQmghjY

Trump's latest effort to bully the UK is another play against #China. He cannot continue his trade war with China without "cover" from another country - and he's picked the UK and is now bullying them to block #Huawei too. #Brexit is the lever.

5/8

The interesting thing about this is that it is probably the best and bigliest illustration yet of the geo-political weakness of the UK as a result of #Brexit. The US holds the whip hand on a #trade deal that is literally vital to the UK.

The UK has no choice.

Check mate. 6/8

My guess (and it is a guess) is that #Brexiters will play this as showing how important the UK is on the world stage because the US wants their help.

They will ignore the fact that this is not a plea for help but an explicit economic threat from a friendly country. 7/8

This is the future for the UK outside the EU - completely at the mercy of one country that will threaten to harm the economy &, therefore, social fabric of the UK to get their own way.

But, of course, the US wouldn't do that.

Except they literally just have.

#Huawei #China 8/8