Former national security adviser to US President Donald Trump, Robert O’Brien, has warned that Britain risks damaging relations with the United States if it decides to impose an arms embargo on Israel. In an interview with the Policy Exchange think tank, O’Brien stressed that such a move could lead to a “serious rift” in relations between the two countries, regardless of who becomes the next US president.
According to The Guardian, O’Brien expressed concern that the embargo could trigger retaliatory measures by the US Congress, including cutting off arms supplies to the UK. He also noted that Britain’s involvement in the production of the F-35 fighter jets could be in jeopardy.
“The F-35 is a joint project and will continue to be delivered to Israel, regardless of the position of other countries,” O’Brien said, adding that the UK could lose its role as a partner in this project and other advanced defence platforms if it decides to impose an embargo.
O’Brien also called on the UK to reconsider its decision to withdraw its objections to International Criminal Court (ICC) chief prosecutor Karim Khan’s request for arrest warrants for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Defence Minister Yoav Galant. He called the ICC’s prosecution of Israeli leaders “ridiculous” and called on British authorities to take all necessary steps to close the case, describing the international body as “an obstacle to peace in the region.”
Previously, Kursor wrote that the media revealed how the IDF is preparing for a full-scale war with Hezbollah.
