The Green Party leader, Zack Polanski, has suggested that the United Kingdom should quit Nato in favour of an “alternative alliance” with the European Union, Mexico, Brazil, and other Global South countries to counter what he described as “American imperialism.”
Speaking in an interview, Mr Polanski said the UK should also consider strategies to counter China and Russia, while questioning the reliability of former US President Donald Trump. “He is not a reliable ally, he is unpredictable,” he said.
Polanski’s proposal comes despite the fact that many EU nations are Nato members, and the UK already maintains military cooperation with the bloc following Brexit. His choice of non-traditional allies is likely to raise questions: Mexico contributed only a single fighter squadron to the Second World War and is currently focused on domestic security, while Brazil is a member of the Brics alliance alongside Russia, China, and Iran, though it has acquired retired Royal Navy vessels over the decades.
When asked about reforming Nato, Polanski said: “I want to reform Nato from within,” but later acknowledged this may not be possible. “Let’s talk about if it is possible to reform Nato from within. I don’t think it is possible,” he said.
The comments follow Polanski’s previous calls for the UK to review the presence of US troops on British soil, suggesting closure of 13 bases and the expulsion of around 10,000 personnel who have been stationed in the country since the Cold War.
Polanski has also questioned the multi-billion-pound renewal of the Trident nuclear missile system, suggesting it be paused for parliamentary debate. The system currently relies on US-sourced warheads but remains operationally independent. Critics warn that halting Trident would leave the UK without a nuclear deterrent amid heightened tensions with Russia and could put thousands of jobs in UK shipyards at risk.
Labour minister Torsten Bell reacted to the interview on social media, writing: “There is almost no scrutiny of Green policy positions. As soon as there is, even with gentle probing, you get a mess.
