Britain should again feel like a” global player ” after leaving the European Union, said British defense Minister Gavin Williamson in an interview with the Telegraph. According to him, London intends to expand the network of military bases.

Williamson said that after leaving the EU, Britain’s influence in the international arena should once again begin to grow. “We should be optimistic about our future after leaving the European Union. This is the most important moment in our history since the end of the Second world war,” he stressed.

According to Williamson, to expand the influence London intends to increase the number of military bases in different regions of the world. “I pay great attention to the question how we can maximize the number of our forces and means of advanced deployment, creating deterrence factors, while also providing a British presence. We are studying such opportunities not only in the far East, but also in the Caribbean region,” he said.

According to sources, the publication surrounded by the Minister, we can talk about the creation of military bases in the former British colonies — Singapore and Brunei in the South China Sea, as well as Guyana and the British overseas territory of Montserrat in the Caribbean.

Williamson explained that in this way the UK abandons the policy started in 1968, in which the country was curtailing military bases located to the East of Suez. So Britain will make it clear to other countries that once again becomes a” global power”, the Minister said.

Despite the exit of the EU, London is not refusing to participate in the joint planning of the defense of European countries. In early December, London announced a military exercise in the Baltic Sea with the participation of Estonian forces. In Estonia, the British military contingent will also be expanded — 20 new tanks will be transferred to the country to strengthen the existing connections.