Fuuny and kind of sums up the UK’s agony on this issue. Unlike many of my UK business colleagues, I thought the Brexit outcome was a was a poor decision. Today, I think they should bug out, be it soft or hard. If the Euros want to punish the UK with a hard exit, they can expect an unpleasant new defence and security arrangement.
It may be the only realistic bargaining leverage the UK has. Given the current US attitude towards NATO, the UK may need to develop an enhanced 5-eye defence relationship.