Strong men now rule the world and govern by the principle ‘might is right’, the former head of MI6 has warned.
Sir Alex Younger said Donald Trump embodied this idea, which has put US allies in a difficult position.
It came as a survey found 69 per cent of people think democracy is weakening and that strong men have more influence than international institutions.
Speaking to the BBC Radio 4 Today programme about the US President’s strikes on Venezuela, Sir Alex said the world order was changing.
‘We see, essentially, the world now governed by the idea that might is right and that strong men presiding over spheres of influences – and tolerating each other’s activities within that sphere but dominating their own backyard – is the basic operating unit of the world.
‘And I think Donald Trump embodies that, and I think that’s what we’re seeing here.’
Sir Alex, who is the longest-serving MI6 chief in the past 50 years, said the UK’s refusal to accuse Mr Trump of breaching international law leaves it open to hypocrisy allegations after the UK Government said that Russia breached international law following the 2022 invasion of Ukraine.
‘Certainly we need to recognise, particularly as we talk about Ukraine, that we present as hypocritical, particularly with the Global South, when we posture around principle on the one hand, but where our key ally quite self-evidently follows the might is right principle,’ he added.
It came as 20,000 people surveyed across 27 major democracies said they believe democracy is facing a systemic crisis.
The poll found that 69 per cent believe democracy is weakening, while 68 per cent say their political system is failing according to research by consultancy firm FGS Global.
Most people – 74 per cent – believe the system serves ‘a rich and powerful elite’ rather than ordinary people.
More than two thirds (69 per cent) believed ‘strong leaders have increasingly more influence than international institutions’.
And a worrying 73 per cent said they thought life would be harder for the next generation.
