King Charles played a blinder in the United States. He was tactful, subtle, diplomatic and convincing. All whilst getting across some less than positive messages at a time when the UK-US ‘Special Relationship’ is under greater strain than it has been for some time.
Some of the key comments from HM The King’s speech to Congress were: ‘We meet in times of great uncertainty, in times of conflict from Europe to the Middle East which pose immense challenges.’
He spoke of the need for ongoing support to NATO which was vital for: ‘keeping North Americans and Europeans safe from our common adversaries’. Adding that our countries shared: ‘democratic, legal and social traditions’, and that we have ‘always found ways to come together’.
He acknowledged that the UK needed to do more and play its part. An important message after years (if not decades) of under-spending on defence: ‘Our country, in order to be fit for the future, has committed to the biggest sustained increase in defence spending since the Cold War’. HM The King acknowledged that we had sometimes had a difficult past, but that ours was a: ‘story of reconciliation, renewal and remarkable partnership’.
So, HM The King has done his part, making the case for the relationship and making best use of his (somewhat surprising you might say) apparent friendship with President Trump.
But will it be enough to shift the dial on this torrid period in UK-US relations? Sadly, I fear not. In my piece for the UK Defence Journal on 02 April I argued that it was time for us to rethink the ‘Special Relationship’ and that it had been more important for the UK than the US. I concluded by saying:
‘Time for us to therefore accept that our relationship with the US is no different to that of any country, figure out what we are going to do with our European neighbours, who are closer to us now in terms of values, and up our defence spending. The Special Relationship is little more than words under this administration. Let’s accept that and figure out what we do next.’
Whilst HM The King’s visit may have changed the mood music for a few days it hasn’t fundamentally changed the position of President Trump or those around him. A fact quickly borne out by the President’s threats to pull US troops out of Germany and his ongoing criticism of Ukraine.
The reality is that the President comes across as a fickle and unfocussed man. Where he is right now is not where he will be in five minutes time. And his fundamental beliefs are hard to change. Beliefs that include a feeling that NATO has not supported the US, that the US has been taken advantage of by Europe (and others), and that it is time to be selfish and think of the US and the US alone – and indeed of what is best for him and those around him.
He also chooses to cosy up to those who have fundamentally different values than us, for example Putin in Russia.
This means we need to accept there will be times that we will not share values and that we will need to align with countries who do. That might include the US, but then again it might not. And that is something we are going to have to get used to.
In short, the US is not the reliable ally it once was. The ‘Special Relationship’ (if it ever existed in the way we thought it did), was not what it once was. It is time for us to accept and understand that, and to figure out how to deal with it.
And to those who think this is just a passing phase I urge caution in thinking that way. There has been a generational shift in US thinking. Whilst President Trump may be the most vocal and provocative in what he says those around him (and many of those who voted for him) share similar thoughts. So, there has been a generational change in the US. And I believe that change will continue regardless of who is in charge.
In some ways we have only ourselves to blame for that. We didn’t spend on defence what we should have done. We relied too much (and took advantage of) the US for too long. Maybe it was always going to come to a head, and this is how it has.
So, let’s not dwell on the past or a rose-tinted view of the past. Let’s just do what we need to do, work with those who share our values, including with the US when our causes align. And accept that we live in different times.
This article is the opinion of the author and not necessarily that of the UK Defence Journal. If you would like to submit your own article on this topic or any other, please see our submission guidelines
