In the 1980s, there was a perceived close bond between President Ronald Reagan and Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher due to their shared free market and anti-Communist beliefs. However, Thatcher privately expressed misgivings about Reagan, once commenting that there was “nothing there” in his head. She was also angered by Reagan’s invasion of Grenada, which involved Queen Elizabeth II. Two decades later, President George W. Bush and Prime Minister Tony Blair formed a close relationship, leading to their joint involvement in the disastrous Iraq invasion, which many believed should have ended any special relationship between the US and Britain.
Despite the failure of the Iraq invasion, British leaders have continued to pursue close ties with US presidents. Recently, Labour Party leader Keir Starmer faced criticism for his deferential behavior towards President Donald Trump during a meeting in the Oval Office. Starmer’s attempt to impress Trump with an invitation from King Charles III was seen as a humiliating and “cheap” gesture by critics. With a majority of British people holding negative views of Trump, a state visit by him and his wife, Melania, could potentially backfire and have unintended consequences similar to when the Ceausescus of Romania visited Buckingham Palace and staff were reportedly instructed to lock up valuables.
Instead of clinging to the idea of a special relationship with the US, Starmer and other British leaders should heed the words of Lord Palmerston, who famously said that England has no eternal friends or foes, only eternal interests. This suggests that nations, including the United States, prioritize their own interests above personal relationships. British leaders would do well to remember this principle and focus on pursuing policies that benefit the country rather than trying to maintain a special relationship with the US, which may not always be in Britain’s best interests.
The idea of a special relationship between the US and Britain has been a longstanding concept, with various leaders attempting to cultivate close ties with their American counterparts. However, these relationships have not always been successful, as seen in the case of Reagan and Thatcher or Bush and Blair. The Iraq invasion, in particular, was a major failure that should have led to the reevaluation of the special relationship between the two countries.
In the case of President Donald Trump, his unpopularity in Britain raises questions about the wisdom of pursuing a close relationship with him. A state visit by Trump and his wife could potentially have negative consequences and be met with resistance from the British public. Perhaps instead of trying to impress Trump, British leaders should focus on their own national interests and prioritize policies that benefit the country, regardless of the state of relations with the US.
Ultimately, the concept of a special relationship between the US and Britain should be viewed with skepticism, as history has shown that these relationships can be fraught with difficulties and may not always be in the best interests of the countries involved. Instead of relying on the idea of a special relationship, British leaders should focus on pursuing policies that benefit the country and prioritize its own national interests above maintaining close ties with foreign leaders.
