Is there really a "special relationship" between the UK and USA?

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I don't think US Military makes the Chinese or Russian military look like a "cheap joke " - nor the Indian / North Korean military either.

People really think China and Russia are more powerful than they really are. China is still developing and Russia is the ghost of it's former Soviet self. if it weren't for nuclear weapons America would have probably beaten them both up by now.

Reply 21

Aj12

Original post by S.R

Both are pursuing armament programs that are going to cause America problems though. Just looking at military spending gives a false image. China are currently developing area denial armaments aimed at keeping America out of any conflict China may get involved in. Anti ship, Anti satellite and Anti carrier missiles that will negate America's most powerful advantages They are not aiming to go to war with the US, just stop it interfering in what China views as its sphere of influence.

Neither should be under estimated. America will be the most powerful nation for the foreseeable future but that does not mean it will be able to get involved anywhere in the world and project influence the way it does today for much longer.

Reply 22

TobaccoSmoke

UK military spending has also dropped considerably since 2009, so I would suspect that the British military is now less well funded than the French military.

I can't see Britain being of much significance to America much into the future. In any future war it would probably pay them to get Germany and France on side than rely on the poorly funded British military.

(edited 11 years ago)

Reply 23

Jack93o

the only special relationship america has is with israel

Reply 24

Cheese_Monster

If I were to be PM, my first act in foreign policy would be to herald this speech in Love Actually -

[video="youtube;WITlM2pY_a4"]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WITlM2pY_a4[/video]

Reply 25

Kiss

Original post by Cannotbelieveit

The Australian and Canadian Armed Forces are pretty damn good, whilst they're not as strong in numbers as the US they are still very competent.

Oh that's just an urban myth.

Reply 26

whyeverynameisus

they all speak English... Is this the link...?

Reply 27

Morgsie

As others have pointed out it is a Foreign Policy concept. There is also the Transatlantic relationship (EU)

Reply 28

Martyn*

Yes there is a special relationship. And it is not what you think it is.

Reply 29

Uniiverse

Being friends with Britain is a gateway into Europe...

Reply 30

@Sam

Military wise the US DoD does value the British greatly, even with the recent defence cuts as they have only seen to strengthen the image of the British military.

The British military went through severe cuts and was then able to conduct operations in Libya across a multitude of platforms; SSN, naval launched attack helicopters, Special Forces and aerial attacks (including the current longest bombing run in military history – the Norfolk-Libya return trip). Subsequently the British military has demonstrated an ability to adapt to the circumstances of the London Olympics across a much broader spectrum than initially required and do it successfully.

In contrast the Australian military is having serious funding issues, is run by Stephen Smith one of the most incompetent Defence Ministers conceivable, and is unable to defend its own borders effectively. As it stands a significant proportion of the Australian fleet is below the recommended maintenance standards; at various points over the last few years significant capacities have been completely unavailable including notably the amphibious transport capability during the Queensland Floods.

While the British military is nowhere near perfect it is by no means a struggling force. Every western military is suffering the pitfalls of having political oversight by individuals who rarely value the true situation of the forces. While yes troop reductions do limit our ability to do certain operations we are keeping the core capabilities that we do need operating at a world class standard.

On the subject of the Special Relationship here we must remember that the United States does not have one foreign policy; the State and Defense Departments each follow their own agenda, and often the Presidency adds a third. While for the State Department Britain has rarely been such a major ally unless in times of need, i.e. Iraq, for the DoD we have consistently had a strong relationship and partnership.

Now at the moment everyone likes to bring up the Falklands when discussing British foreign policy and defence, and to be honest this is a great example. At the start of the Falklands War it was the general view of the State Dept. that the budding Argentine relationship should be preserved if possible and was willing to risk the strength of the British relationship by requesting some appeasement on their part, the DoD on the other hand immediately began supporting the British military once the task group was assembled .

Reply 31

phonk7

Yes I would say so, Britain and America have a close and on numerous occassions, shared (and it must be said, conflicting) history. The 'Anglo-American' model is still salient in contemporary times, with Britain and the United States both promulgating a similar form of neo-liberal capitalism, and have throughout the 20th century (and continue to do so now) stand for similar societal ideals.
Britain has and continues to be America's principal ally militarily, and whilst there have been occassional disagreements on policy (Suez crisis, Vietnam), as expected between any two independent nation states, shares most of America's foreign policy goals (due maybe to their shared economic propensities). Britain has very close military and intelligence ties with the USA, the most obvious example being shared nuclear weapons technology and testing, and today the 'Level 1 partnership' ('1' being the most intimate) Britain enjoys with America concerning the development of their new F35 jets.

Reply 32

FrogInABog

After hearing this song, who wouldn't?!

Reply 33

the mezzil

Original post by Kiss

It doesn't have a lot to do with race, it's more of a political thing.

And just what have they got in terms of military? They've only got resources, nothing militarily compared with the US.

The Canadians and Australians have quite well respected military. Man for man, they are just as well trained and equipped. The USA simply just has more money to spend.

Reply 34

Studentus-anonymous

I'd say the 'special relationship' is over.

Good riddance it was pretty one-sided anyway, Britain gets pressured to scratch America's back and suit it's interests and the UK gets? Nothing.

During the Falklands war America chose to fence sit for the sake of a relationship with a third rate bankrupt country rather than it's primary European Cold War ally.

In more recent verbiage from Argentina, the US still refuses to risk it's relationship with a morally and economically bankrupt third rate regime for the sake of it's Afghan and Iraq ally.

Then there is the unequal extradition treaty, and a general attitude that the US government feels it can make inappropriate statements about what the UK should do.

Culturally speaking we're quite close, there's lots of interaction between the UK and US, and on a government level we're still pretty solid allies, but we're not as great allies as we once were.

Obama's at least indifference to the UK and Europe in general and the UK's interests diverging a bit from the US's means at least at high government levels we're not the best of buds.

Good buds. Not the best.

Reply 35

_HabibaH_

One of a ten year old with a fifteen year old friend. The fifteen year old dares the ten year old and the ten year old does it.

A) Because he is scared of losing the friendship
B) Because he is in awe of the type of person he has befriended
C) Because he is intimidated into doing it
D) All of the above

Reply 36

Confusing_Chem

Yeah, the 'special' relationship comprises of UK being the USA's lackey.

USA: jump
UK: how high?

Reply 37

Hooj

Original post by the mezzil

The Canadians and Australians have quite well respected military. Man for man, they are just as well trained and equipped. The USA simply just has more money to spend.

Money doesn't buy competence unfortunately. :colone:

Reply 38

Made in the USA

Original post by Studentus-anonymous

Ronald Reagan didn't like the idea of the Falklands conflict but still did everything in his power to help Britain. Where did you get the information that the US did nothing but sit on the sidelines? That's some serious revisionist history. Reagan declared US support for Britain, and announced the imposition of economic sanctions against Argentina. We did everything we could possibly do without violating the Monroe doctrine. The US even offered Britain the use of one of its aircraft carriers.

If you think Reagan didn't do enough I promise that Obama will even do less if there is a second Falkland war. Obama is our first anti-British president in modern history and he literally wrote the book on anti-colonialism

Reply 39

the mezzil

Original post by Made in the USA

Pretty much summed it up there for why we need to find ourselves some knew allies, the USA evidently doesn't care about the UK, so why should we? The Americans have VOTED for an anti-British president, which pretty much shows the attitude of the Americans towards the British. We really do need to find ourselves some new friends, the Americans are arrogant, ignorant and pretty much uncaring for the world. Not the type of country any "civilised" country wants to be friends with!