August 26, 2021
An End to the Special Relationship?
By Michael Curtis
A major consequence of the turmoil in Afghanistan today caused by the refusal of President Joe Biden to alter his unilateral timetable to exit Kabul, is that it increased the damage inflicted on allies and friends, and has led the possible demise of the “special relationship” between the UK and the U.S., which projected power and influence in securing a cohesive Western approach in the world. In these circumstances, it is pertinent to ask. “Is the special relationship fact or fiction?” The term was coined by Winston Churchill in his “Iron Curtain” speech at Westminster College, Fulton, Missouri on March 5, 1946, eager to maintain the relationship of close allies in World War II. The concept was that the level of cooperation between the two countries in trade, commerce, military affairs, intelligence sharing, is unparalleled among world powers.
The special relationship has always been uneven. At times, relations between leaders of the two countries have appeared close: Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher and Ronald Reagan rode horses together and danced in the White House. and there appeared to be cordial rapport between Tony Blair and Bill Clinton. But there were always American skeptics of the meaningfulness of the relationship, even before Churchill’s speech. Dean Acheson was caustic, “Britain has lost an empire and has not yet found a role.” The two countries differed over issues, such as the Arab-Israeli war in 1973, over the issue of a nuclear alert, and over British policy in Northern Ireland. President Barack Obama declared in April 2016 that the UK would be at the “back of the queue” in any U.S. trade deal if Brexit took place.
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https://www.americanthinker.com/articles/2021/08/an_end_to_the_special_relationship.html
