Antony Blinken mending fences with France following AUKUS rift

Carl Bildt, former Prime Minister and Foreign Minister of Sweden, shares his perspective from Europe:

How is US Secretary of State Antony Blinken doing with his talks in Paris?

Well, seems to be fairly okay. He had a lengthy discussion with the Foreign Minister Le Drian and he was even received by the President of the Republic, Emmanuel Macron. There's a lot of fence-mending to be done, but a start has been done. And that's good.

What is the reason for the fuel and other shortages that you find in the UK?

Well, the prime minister's blaming it on virtually everything under the sun except Brexit, but the reality is, of course, that there's a significant Brexit component to it. The lorry drivers have been sent packing to Poland or Romania or Germany, wherever, and there is simply a shortage of them, as well as shortage of other personnel. And accordingly, we find cues lining up on petrol stations and other places in the UK. It's embarrassing. It should not be happening, but that's the reality of Brexit.