Special relationship between US and UK: What is the future of it

Special relationship between US and UK: What is the future of it

The experts of London foreign policy are concerned about a “Mad Men” meme. In it, Jon Hamm as Don Draper is in an elevator with a junior colleague who says,  “I feel bad for you.” The advertising guru, blank-faced, replies, “I don’t think about you at all.”

The so-called “ special relationship” between the United States and the United Kingdom  is a source of constant fear. Many people shed light and analyze this relationship. There  is always a fear that those in Washington don’t really think about Britain much at all.

Recently, Brits got some reassuring news. The United State Ambassador in London, Jane Hartley gave a statement in a  podcast interview. According to her, the special relationship between the US and UK is not only special but also essential. She also said that no matter who is the winner of the July 2024 election, whether it’s the current government or the opposition Labour Party. Regardless of election, she believes that strong trans-Atlantic relations will continue.

By profession, Jane Hartley is a diplomat. Due to this reason it’s the part of her job to be polite to everyone. Her statement can not be ignored. Politicians and officials should think about the special relationship differently.  It is also good for London officials and politicians to ask the US for help in foreign policy. 

The US remains the only superpower. This nation is capable of action alone in tough situations despite the new changes in geopolitics. But it is good and beneficial for the US to act with allies. For this purpose it is good to join with the United Kingdom due to shared language, culture, and strategic interests.

This cooperation was evident 20 years ago during the Iraq invasion, when Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfeld welcomed British support, but noted alternatives were available if London chose not to participate.

The Royal air force was also involved in the recent airstrikes against Houthi targets in Yemen using four Eurofighter Typhoon FGR4s stationed in Cyprus. Israel also got help from British planes to defend itself from Iranianmissiles, rockets, and drones in April. It does not matter what the RAF did? The fact is that  the major power, a UN Security Council member, G7 country, and NATO founding member, took part in these actions. It’s both a military and a political move.

Operation Prosperity Guardian is the mission to protect ships in the Red Sea. The United Kingdom helped it in a great way. The United States is the country that started this mission and many countries, approximately 8 along with the UK, joined it. Many European countries ignore the joining but the United Kingdom did more. 

They sent ships like HMS Diamond, which shoots down bad stuff in the sky, and soon, HMS Duncan will help too. They also sent two other ships. The Names of these ships are, , HMS Richmond and HMS Lancaster. The range of these ships are really good, about 75 miles to identify and intercept targets.  

The United States takes serious steps regarding its security  in the Pacific, dealing with China, and its defense agreements with countries like Japan, Taiwan, South Korea, and the Philippines. At this time Taiwan is the source of real worry. After Taiwan’s new president took office, China did some threatening military exercises near Taiwan.

The United Kingdom is silent and does not make any comment in such a situation. Especially  if there’s a serious conflict in the South China Sea. But the United Kingdom is part of a deal named as AUKUS. This deal is between the US and Australia. The purpose of the deal is to make the Indo-Pacific region safe. This can be done by sharing military technologies. 

The UK is part of the Five Eyes intelligence group with Canada, Australia, and New Zealand. Their intelligence services, like MI6 and GCHQ, are important. The UK’s resources are limited, but the government wants to increase defense spending. However, there’s uncertainty about future plans, especially with different political parties involved.

Washington wants a trustworthy partner. They appreciate military strength, but they value alignment in thinking and worldview even more. British leaders need to figure out where they can be most helpful—whether by supporting US priorities or handling tasks independently to ease America’s burden. Foreign policy isn’t easy; if it were, everyone would excel at it.

Author

Sign up for our Newsletter

Click edit button to change this text. Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit