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Relations with US

Does Britain have a “special relationship” with USA? Does this conflict with relations with Europe?

• The term ‘special relationship’ was coined by Winston Churchill during his iron curtain speech of March 1946, to describe the “fraternal association of the English-speaking people’s”
• Since then Anglo-American relations have often been characterised as ‘special’
• The shared cultural and historical inheritance of the two countries is seen as underpinning their close diplomatic and military ties
• Critics, including Romano Prodi (former President of the European Commission) have argues that Britain has cherished the special relationship at the expense of European integration
• Blair argues that Britain is a bridge between the United States and Europe, and, as such, it gains the best of both worlds
• Recent events have served to highlight the increasing importance of this special relationship
• Following the September 11th 2001 terrorist attacks on the World Trade Centre and the Pentagon in Washington Tony Blair flew out to the USA to show his support for the US during this time of crisis
• Following this meeting Blair embarked on a two month diplomatic tour with the aim of gathering international support for military action
• Originally it was assumed that Clintonesque Blair and Republican George W. Bush would have little common ground between them and as such the relationship that was strong between Bush and Clinton would weaken, as it tends to do when the leaders of these two counties don’t share “a commonality of purpose” (Wikipedia).
• The special relationship was weak between Harold Wilson and Lindon Johnson
• However Blair and Bush were found to share beliefs and responses to the international situation post 9/11, although many commentators observe that meetings prior to these attacks were stiff and awkward
• The strength of the relationship was again shown when the United States and Britain went to war with Iraq over claims of the existence of illegal weapons of mass destruction
• Unfortunately for Blair and Bush this assertion seems to have been inaccurate and the decision largely ill-advised, not only because of the repercussions from a global political and military point of view but also for the international reputation of the US and UK
• Tony Blair’s involvement in the war in Iraq damaged his standing at home, both with the electorate, as shown by the large decrease of government majority in the House of Commons after the last general elections, and especially within the New Labour party itself, which has since seen intra-party rebellions over many issues, most recently including educational reforms
• It has strained Britain’s relationship with Europe, especially with France and Germany (termed old Europe by Donald Rumsfeld) who were strongly opposed to the war
• This is a classic example of an event which many claim proves that the United Kingdom values its special relationship with Europe higher than its relationship with its closer neighbours on the continent
• Britain is often seen as the weaker half of the Anglo-American partnership
• Britain has not always followed complacently in the footsteps of the US
• The relationship has not always been harmonious and was severely strained when Britain resisted pressure from the US to send troops in during the Suez crisis and the Vietnam War
• According to Ben Wright of the BBC Britain has often sought to “restrain and dampen the action of the US” for example during the Korean War. He continues to say that this has particularly been the case during the post-Cold War period
• Washington has long valued Britain’s role in mediating relations between Europe and America
• However post-Cold War it appears that the US interests are drifting further apart from those that Britain shares with Europe
• On the issues of trade, the Middle-East and the Kyoto agreement on climate change the paths of Europe and Britain diverge away from that of the US
• There is a strong possibility now more than ever that Britain will get back to “pursuing its proper objective of a leadership role in Europe” (John Holmes)
• Critics including Will Hutton have long claimed that the US-UK special relationship is harmful to Britain and that “the effort ant attention that Britain puts into preserving the relationship has distracted it” (John Holmes) from its role in Europe
• This is “a pivotal moment” that may make us realise “that the special relationship should be consigned to history along with our empire” (Robin Cook)
• “The suspicion also remains that it means slightly more to Britain than it odes to the US” (BBC)
• Not only does the US dwarf its British ally both economically and militarily, but it also has ‘special’ relationships with other countries including Mexico, Canada and Israel
• “Throughout the Cold War, Britain was a key bridge between the US and Europe and Washington has longed value in Britain’s role in mediating relations between the two continents” (BBC)
• It is “an unequal partnership, dogged with infidelity, and unbalanced in its power” (Ben Wright)
• The George W. Bush told Congress that the US had “no truer friend” than the UK
• Robert Cecil claimed that there has been no occasion when Whitehall has ever changed Washington’s mind on any issue of substance
• Kingdom argues that “the idea that [Blair] could influence US policy was a delusion. As the US train moved to war, Britain was merely a passenger”
• “The relationship seemed stronger when there was ideological convergence between leaders” (Kingdom)
• Charles de Gaulle believed that it was “difficult [for Britain to] be with both the Americans and the Europeans”
• Blair follows Macmillan’s view that Britain should seek the best of both worlds and be a bridge between Europe and the US.
• According to Peter Mangold there are good practical reasons why the UK continuously looks to the US. They continue to share a significantly greater community of interest in what happens in the wider world than Britain does with the majority of Europe
• “The gap between Europeans and American is becoming wider and harder for Britain to straddle” (The World Today)
• Tony Blair said when elected that we should aim to be “strong in Europe and strong with the US. There is no choice between the two. Stronger with one means stronger with the other”
• “Diverging attitudes to the Israel-Palestine conflict, to relations with Iran and to oil consumption and energy conservation pull Europeans and Americans further apart” (William Wallace)
• “The special relationship is dead” (William Wallace)
• According to Caroline Kennedy Pipe “Tony Blair is perceived in Washington as being a central actor shaping the international political agenda”

Comments

These notes are aimed at people studying for Edexcel A Level Politics, module 5 and 6, route D, but will be suitable for other people too.

Originally submitted by joker13na on TSR Forums.