Sir John Major has warned that global democracy is at risk as the United States retreats from its leadership role on the world stage. The former British prime minister argued that President Donald Trump’s policy of American “isolation” is creating a power vacuum, emboldening adversarial nations like Russia and China.
Speaking to the BBC, Sir John, who served as prime minister from 1990 to 1997, expressed deep concern that the progress made since the collapse of the Soviet Union is now being reversed. He firmly stated that Russia’s aggression is far from over and predicted that further invasions were inevitable. He also pointed to the rise of “ugly nationalism,” particularly from the intolerant right, as contributing to a “very unsettled time.”
His remarks come ahead of an emergency summit of European leaders set for Monday to discuss the war in Ukraine. Meanwhile, U.S. and Russian officials are preparing for peace talks, raising concerns that key European nations, including Ukraine, may be sidelined in negotiations.
Sir John also pushed back against recent comments from U.S. Vice President JD Vance, who criticized Europe’s record on free speech. He suggested that such criticisms would be better directed at authoritarian regimes like those in Moscow or Beijing. “It’s extremely odd to lecture Europe on free speech and democracy while simultaneously cozying up to [Russian President Vladimir] Putin,” he remarked. “In Mr. Putin’s Russia, those who oppose him disappear, die, flee the country, or—at a statistically improbable rate—fall out of high windows in Moscow.”
Reflecting on the shifting global landscape, Sir John warned that the world may be reshaping in ways unfavorable to the West. “The hard-fought gains we secured after the Soviet Union collapsed are now being reversed. We see an aggressive Russia in Ukraine, and if they succeed there, they will inevitably push further.”
He expressed no doubt that democracy has been in steady decline over the past 18 years and cautioned against the dangers of rising nationalism. “We are in a deeply unsettled period,” he noted.
The former Conservative leader also addressed the financial strains facing the UK government, particularly in relation to defense spending. He acknowledged the difficulties facing Chancellor Rachel Reeves but stressed the need for a substantial increase in defense funding. “It’s easy for those outside government to say, ‘Just spend more money,’ but the reality is that we must recognize the necessity of materially increasing defense expenditure as soon as it is viable.”
Meanwhile, Business Secretary Jonathan Reynolds, speaking on the BBC’s Sunday with Laura Kuenssberg program, emphasized the UK and Europe’s need to meet U.S. demands for greater financial contributions to collective defense amid growing global threats. He confirmed that the UK government intends to raise defense spending from 2.3% to 2.5% of GDP but declined to provide a specific timeline.
Reynolds also downplayed concerns about divisions between the U.S. and its allies regarding the Ukraine conflict, insisting that a “great deal of common ground” remains in their approach.
Sir John has been an outspoken critic of Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine since it began in 2022. Shortly after the war broke out, he joined former Prime Minister Gordon Brown in signing a petition calling for Putin to face a Nuremberg-style tribunal for war crimes committed during the conflict.
