It is very hard trying to pretend that Britain, which once committed any kind of crime as an imperialist power in the world and particularly in Africa, has been turned into a divine power on the eve of the twenty first century to fight oppression and terror with the aim of compensating its past.
But a brief look at the UK’s controversial acts in the international community could draw a picture quite opposite to any impartial observer.
The twenty first century started while the British government turned its warmongering look from the turbulent Middle East to the black continent.
The British administration finished the twentieth century with war, violence and threat in almost all continents across the globe under the pretext of fighting terrorism and in the new century, it also used the excuse to fire at other parts of the world.
Libya was the first country to be invaded by Britain with the aim to fight terrorism. Months later than what was called “war on terror” in Libya, the British officials are now strengthening their foothold in the crisis-hit African country.
Cameron pledged more British training for security forces and support for securing the country’s borders. However, just a few meters away in Algeria, he announced a strengthened “military partnership” to provide security in the region.
The British government has also supported Paris, which launched its war on Mali on January 11, under the pretext of halting the advance of the fighters who control the northern part of the African country.
And the interesting point is that all the three countries have rich strategic reserves.
Algeria supplies 5 percent of the UK’s gas needs, whilst Libya is one of the country’s important trading partners.
Before the beginning of revolution in Libya in February 2011, the oil-rich country produced around 1.6 million barrels per day. Libya was the seventeenth-largest oil producer in the world and the third largest in Africa.
Meanwhile Mali’s natural resources, including gold and uranium reserves, could be one of the reasons behind the war. At the end of the 20th century Mali had the third highest gold production in Africa after South Africa and Ghana.
Even if few doubts remain about Britain’s real intention of supporting France in invading or melding in the internal affairs of African countries, the last piece of the puzzle could lead to a definitive conclusion.
The truth behind Britain’s warmongering policies is that the so-called “war on terror” is bound up with an imperialistic quest for resources.
The Energy Security Strategy published by Britain’s Department for Energy and Climate Change in November 2012, rings the alarm for the UK’s future energy security and highlights the importance of “energy diplomacy” in securing the country’s supplies of oil and gas.
The document states, “Declining reserves of fossil fuels in the North Sea are making the UK increasingly dependent on imports at a time of rising global demand and increased resource competition.”
It also predicts UK oil production, which currently provides for 70 percent of UK oil demand, “to decrease by 5 percent per year”, meaning that within 20 years the North Sea oil supplies will have run out, leaving the country dependent upon imports.
Moreover, the official document says that a decline in North Sea supplies mean that the UK will go from importing about 50 percent of the gas it uses currently to almost 70 percent by 2025.
Technically the British government’s energy diplomacy could be seen as a euphemism for the country’s militaristic foreign policy across the world, which includes the military adventurism regardless of international norms and conventions.
Obviously, the glaze on terrorism is the best vehicle to justify and legitimize aggressive intentions. The vehicle, which Britain is a master in abusing it historically.