Human Security Centre Human Rights and International Security Research

Nobody disputes that security co-operation should continue between the UK and EU after Brexit. Instead, the questions revolve around just what form security co-operation takes – specifically, how it will deviate from current arrangements.

With the immigration and Russia policies of the Conte government, it is clear Italy is now led by figures wanting to break from the conventional foreign, security and defence policies commonly agreed upon by Western leaders – with the exception of Trump – over the last few years.

Rather than simply being name changes, the appointments of Mike Pompeo, John Bolton and Gina Haspel may signal the beginnings of a shift in White House foreign policy stance.

With the 2020 Democratic primary field looking to be incredibly large, there are a whole host of potential stances that candidates could take. Furthermore, the unpredictability of Trump means that the Democrats could be forced to shift onto new ground.

A definitive judgment of the aftermath of Sri Lankan cannot yet be reached. At best, all that can be determined at present is that the post-civil war settlement in country has had mixed results, and has left it with an unclear future.

From his gung-ho use of Twitter through to his policy proposals that have aimed to radically change the scope of US and world affairs, it is clear that Trump has set about doing things in his own way without regard for criticism, difficulties or consequences.

In the 16 months since the Brexit vote, European Commission figures have certainly hinted towards ever-closer security and defence union after the UK leaves. But advances towards such integration are still in the very early stages.