Jonathan Powell laments that Britain no longer “punches above its weight” (Brexit Britain has rendered itself irrelevant, Opinion, 13 November) with “punching” being the operative word in the literal sense. The foreign policy that Powell is nostalgic for, the one he was most intimately involved in – the disastrous Blairite doctrine of intervention in other countries even if our national interests are not at stake – has punched its way through Afghanistan and Iraq leaving nothing but devastation, with hundreds of thousands dead and even more wounded. The consequences of these wars and other interventions such those in Libya continue to haunt these regions. Implicit within the vote to leave the EU was that the UK will seek a different role for itself, for the old one has so clearly failed – a new role based on peaceful coexistence, non-interference in the internal affairs of other nations, respect for other nations, and trade with other countries based on mutual benefits.

Fawzi Ibrahim

London

More letters from today’s Brexit special:

• Can the Forsdick family and Britain unite after the Brexit saga?

• Time for parliament to take back control of hamstrung Brexit negotiations

• Free movement of people raises real concerns

• Chris Haskins: Let’s have a cabinet of all the Brexiteer talents

• Hold ministers’ feet to the fire over final Brexit deal

• Join the debate – email guardian.letters@theguardian.com