Research On British Security Assistance Policy To West Africa Under The Background Of Brexit

On June 23,2016,the UK held a national referendum on Brexit,resulting in a vote to leave the EU.On January 31,2020,the UK officially left the EU.This article examines the core issue of UK’s security assistance policy towards West Africa from 2016 to 2019 under the backdrop of Brexit.After the Brexit referendum in 2016,the UK sought to enhance its international influence and status,one way being more active in foreign aid.At the same time,the deteriorating security situation in West Africa posed an increasingly severe threat to British national interests,as issues such as terrorism and piracy not only affected West African countries but also challenged British security and economic interests.During this period,the UK significantly increased its aid to West Africa,focusing on improving the region’s security environment.This article comprehensively uses various research methods such as literature research and comparative research,based on official documents and news sources,to analyze the purpose,ways,characteristics,and effectiveness of UK’s security aid to West Africa under the backdrop of Brexit,drawing on existing research results.UK’s security aid to West Africa was guided by relevant policy documents,including providing funds for security maintenance,deploying troops,providing equipment,and military training,while supporting France’s leadership position in West African security operations and emphasizing cooperation with France.The most important way was providing military training,with a focus on Commonwealth member states and the Sahel region.Although the UK’s security aid to West Africa achieved some success,the limited understanding of the history and reality of West African countries,lack of specific and detailed aid plans,evaluation and feedback mechanisms resulted in limited effectiveness,with the security situation in West Africa remaining severe.This article examines UK’s security aid policies towards West African countries under the backdrop of Brexit in four parts: the first part mainly elaborates on two issues,one being the UK’s Brexit and its repositioning of global strategy,which is the domestic background of UK’s security aid to West Africa;the second part mainly based on two core official documents published by the UK,elaborates on the ways in which the UK provides security assistance to West African countries;the third part focuses on analyzing the characteristics of UK’s security aid to West Africa;the fourth part evaluates the effectiveness of UK’s aid according to official UK documents.Through the micro perspective of UK’s security assistance to West African countries,the core and practical ways,characteristics,and effectiveness of the "Global Britain" concept established by the UK during the Brexit period can be seen.Brexit aims to participate more actively in global affairs with a more independent posture,further promote its international status on the basis of fully leveraging traditional influence,but the ultimate goal is still to expand and maintain national interests.Through this study,the balance between maintaining national interests,using national power,and assuming international responsibilities can be seen.