David Frost: The man who holds Britain's 'fighting power' against the EU

“Britain's Henry Kissinger”

Before David Frost was chosen as Chief Brexit Negotiator, the most important figure in the UK's strategic direction in negotiations with the European Union (EU) was Dominic Cummings, a senior advisor appointed by British Prime Minister Boris Johnson shortly after taking office. Dominic Cummings is a person who likes to stand out, always wearing eye-catching outfits, always bringing a feeling of being awaited at every event he appears. But David Frost has contrasting characteristics: he is simple, diligent and a bit introverted.

David Frost - the man who decides Britain's position with the EU in Brexit negotiations. Photo: Reuters

In every meeting, David Frost is always elegant and neat in traditional office clothes. But David Frost's colleagues say that behind that unremarkable appearance is a tireless work ethic, a warrior's fighting spirit, stronger than Dominic Cummings - a quality that is highly appreciated when the UK is going through difficult negotiations with the EU regarding the relationship between the two sides in the "post-Brexit" period.

David Frost won the Prime Minister's trust as an experienced diplomat, knowledgeable about European values, and knowledgeable about European institutions through the positions he has held.

Born in 1965 in Derby, David Frost began his political career quite early when he joined the Foreign Office in 1987 - where he was appointed British High Commissioner in Nicosia, Republic of Cyprus. From 1993 onwards, he held many important positions related to Europe, such as the UK Representative for Economic and Financial Affairs to the European Union, Director of the European Union Department or Director of the European Commission in the Foreign Office... Because of his simple, introverted nature, no matter which department he worked in, he was not considered a "star". But anyone who worked with him recognized his diligence and dedication, always wanting people to focus on the work he was doing instead of focusing on him personally.

When British Prime Minister Boris Johnson chose David Frost as Head of the DelegationBrexit negotiations- a key cabinet position, which can be seen as “holding the future of Britain”, many people believe that it is the trust between old acquaintances when both studied in the same class at Oxford University. But for those who are familiar with the situation at 10 Downing Street, David Frost has won the Prime Minister’s trust as an experienced diplomat, knowledgeable about European values, knowledgeable about European institutions through the positions he has held.

David Frost says Britain is not afraid of leaving the EU without a trade deal. Photo: Getty

Prime Minister Johnson's trust in David Frost was also demonstrated by his appointment as National Security Adviser to replace his predecessor Mark Sedwill - marking an unprecedented event when a figure simultaneously held both important positions in the government and Parliament.

Many people say that Prime Minister Johnson put such important roles in David Frost's hands because David Frost is a "perfect complement" to the Prime Minister. Boris Johnson is still famous for his improvisational and humorous style, so he needs the support of serious, solid figures who can handle work in a detailed and standard way like David Frost, who will establish a solid wall around the Prime Minister.

Looking at David Frost today, many people compare him to a figure who had a great influence on American politics, shaping American foreign policies for a long time, that is Henry Kissinger, National Security Advisor under Presidents Richard Nixon and Gerald Ford.

“The cornerstone” challenging Europe

Despite holding both key positions as Chief Brexit Negotiator and National Security Adviser, David Frost said that Brexit is still his number one priority at this point. David Frost has stated that his aim is to help the Prime Minister define a new strategic vision for the UK's place on the international stage as an independent country after the end of the transition period. To achieve that position, the UK must demonstrate a strong voice inBrexit negotiationswith the European Union, forcing the European Union to show seriousness and respect for Britain as a sovereign nation.

David Frost (left) and EU Brexit chief negotiator Michael Barnier in Brussels, Belgium. Photo: Scotland Herald

David Frost's tough stance came as quite a surprise to negotiators on the other side.European Union. Looking at David Frost's record with positions closely related to Europe, people once predicted that he would have a flexible approach in the Brexit negotiations. But reality has proven otherwise. Recently, when Europe intended to use the old tactic of prolonging negotiations to force the UK to make concessions on three major issues related to fair trade competition, the dispute settlement mechanism and the fisheries agreement, the UK proactively announced that it would stop negotiations as long as Europe did not change its approach to Brexit.

David Frost has repeatedly said that Britain is not “fearful” of leaving the European Union without a trade deal.

In interviews, David Frost has repeatedly said that Britain is not “fearful” of leaving the European Union without a trade deal. In fact, Britain has advised businesses to prepare for a no-deal scenario, suggesting that the announcement of a complete cessation of negotiations is not a “bluff” but a path that Britain is willing to pursue if it does not receive respect from Europe.

David Frost’s tough stance not only surprised European negotiators, but also surprised his own Foreign Office colleagues. Many have sought to explain the “mystery” of David Frost’s views on European integration, and the story has been led back to the decisive moment in 1993 - when he was appointed First Secretary for Economic and Financial Affairs at the British Mission to the European Union. Initially, David Frost was portrayed as a “typical pro-European”. But after many years working in the EU, David Frost gradually changed his perspective, seeing the EU as a “bureaucracy”, and that made him lose faith in the European Dream.

David Frost led the British negotiating team. Photo: Getty

By forcing EU negotiators to make concessions to resume negotiations, British nationalists are very happy, considering this as a "breakthrough" for Britain after a long period of being "led" by the European Union. In all previous analyses by experts, Britain has always been considered the "underdog", the side that will lose more than Europe if the two sides do not reach a Brexit agreement. But David Frost is showing that Britain will not let this inherent view bind its power at the negotiating table with the EU in the little time left, and if Britain has to pay the price for its choice, the price that Europe will have to pay will not be small.

Not only that, a member agreeing to leave without a deal would set a very dangerous precedent for Europe. Over the next 4 weeks, both the UK and the EU will conduct very intense negotiations, including Saturday and Sunday. Whether the two sides reach a final agreement or not, people will still remember David Frost for his historic role in a historic moment for the UK, that is the moment when the UK officially leaves the EU on December 31, 2020.