US to ‘Play Role’ in Helping EU, UK Navigate Brexit Transition - DoS

The United States will contribute to the efforts by the United Kingdom and the European Union to manage the Brexit transition, US Deputy Secretary of State Antony Blinken said at the Center for Strategic and International Studies in Washington, DC on Wednesday.

WASHINGTON (Sputnik) — The Brexit decision caused economic turbulence in Britain's economy, the drop of the UK stock indices and devaluation of the pound sterling, which all together sent global financial markets into frenzy.

“These are decisions most and foremost for the United Kingdom and the EU to make working together, but because both the United Kingdom and the EU as an institution, and the countries that make it up look to us, engage with us, work with us every single day, we will play a role, I think, in helping them to navigate this transition,” Blinken stated.

On Thursday, the United Kingdom held a referendum to determine whether or not the country should leave the European Union. According to the final results, 51.9 percent of voters, or 17.4 million people, decided to support Brexit, while about 16.1 million opposed it.

“This is not the outcome that we would have preferred. It’s obviously caused a moment of deep concern and deep questioning about the implications, not just in the United Kingdom, not just in Europe but around the world,” Blinken added. “But we believe that this can be managed deliberately, carefully, smartly so that everyone lands on solid ground.”