The U.K. will decide Thursday whether or not to stay in the European Union, a potential move popularly termed “Brexit.” Controversy surrounds the issue, with both sides claiming economic advantage in their position.
But according to a statement issued on Monday by senators Ted Cruz (R-Texas), Mike Lee (R-Utah), and Jeff Sessions (R-Ala.), the Obama administration is trying to rig the game.
“The United States should take no official position on the outcome of this referendum. We are, therefore disturbed to see your Administration seeking to pressure the United Kingdom into remaining in the European Union.”
The senators conclude by calling on Obama to “end your Administration’s misguided efforts to pressure Britain into a choice it would not make of its own free will.”
The senators blasted the administration for threatening the United States' relationship with the U.K. by holding trade agreements over the United Kingdom’s head, referencing U.S. Trade Representative Michael Froman’s statement back in March that, “We are not particularly in the market for FTAs [Federal Trade Agreements] with individual countries.”
President Obama himself used this principle during a joint press conference with British Prime Minister David Cameron in April. When asked what would happen to the relationship between the two countries if the U.K. decided to leave to European Union, Obama responded:
“Our focus is in negotiating with a big bloc, the European Union, to get a trade agreement done, and the UK is going to be in the back of the queue.”
So according to Obama, Britain is free to make whatever decision they want with regard to the E.U. But if they choose wrong, the U.S. will no longer prioritize the trade relationship with the U.K. In fact, it’ll go to the “back of the queue.”
No pressure.
The senators claim the United States' relationship with the United Kingdom should be prioritized no matter what, and demand the Obama administration cease pressuring the U.K. to decide a certain way by threatening to slow down trade between the two countries, asserting, “For us, Britain stands at the front of the line.”