As for the Brits, they are clearly suffering from phantom pains for their lost empire. Think of it, in less than one century the British Empire went from being the empire upon which the sun never sets, (Britannia rules the waves, etc.) to being the USA’s poodle which nobody respects or takes seriously.
[thesaker.is]
The reason for British decline is their rejection of the revealed will of God. Britannia only ruled the waves when they acted as good stewards of God's creation.