How Britain’s ‘frenemies’ are helping Putin’s Russia

In the battle to become prime minister, both Liz Truss and RIshi Sunak have vowed to crack down on Britain’s enemies. As China bullies Taiwan and Russia bombards Ukraine, whoever wins is likely to see their resolve tested from day one in No. 10. What is less clear is how either candidate would deal with the tricky issue of Britain’s ‘frenemies’: those countries that say warm words about the West but can’t always be trusted. 

Putin’s war has exposed the divided loyalties of several countries around the world – including India and Turkey – who purport to be friends of Britain. When we have needed these nations to take a stand, they have either refused to help, worked to undermine us, or worse, are actively helping our enemies.

Nowhere has this been more apparent than the Gulf. Despite a myriad of professed British allies in the region, only Qatar and Kuwait have voiced strong support for Ukraine’s territorial integrity.