Britain and the United States: What is Special about the Relationship?

Today the relationship between the UK and the US appears strong, but is it special? Will cracks appear in the alliance or will it grow stronger? Will a special relationship help or hinder a close relationship between the post-Brexit UK and the European Union?

Guests

Lord Renwick, former British Ambassador to the United States

Chaired by

Jeremy Shapiro, Research Director, ECFR

First established by Churchill and Roosevelt in the desperate summer of 1940, the special relationship between the UK and the US has gone through profound ups and downs over the years. Today the relationship appears strong, but is it special? Prime Minister Theresa May was the first foreign leader to visit President Trump in the White House, but it is not clear that she came away with very much. What is clear is that the ground is shifting on both sides of the Atlantic. Will cracks appear in the alliance as a result or will it grow stronger? Will a special relationship help or hinder a close relationship between the post-Brexit UK and the European Union?

 

Lord Renwick is the former British Ambassador to the US and South Africa. He is the author of many books, including Fighting with Allies. America and Britain in Peace and War (BiteBack Publishing, 2016).

Jeremy Shapiro (@JyShapiro) is Research Director at ECFR. Previously he was a fellow at Brookings, as well as worked as a member of the U.S. State Department’s policy planning staff.