Key Takeaways
- The UK’s relationship with the US has become increasingly complex and challenging under the Trump administration.
- The UK government’s attempts to navigate this relationship have been marked by naivety and hubris, with Prime Minister Keir Starmer’s team underestimating the extent of the administration’s extremism.
- The Trump administration views the UK as part of US civilization and is willing to intervene to protect what it sees as its civilisational heritage.
- The UK has three broad options for responding to the Trump administration’s approach: continuing to kowtow to the White House, allying with Germany and France to project European civilisational power, or retrenching inwardly.
- The UK’s decision to align more closely with the European single market is a step in the right direction, but it must also come to terms with its role in the EU and the implications of a federal European state.
Introduction to the Special Relationship
The special relationship between the UK and the US has long been a cornerstone of British foreign policy. However, under the Trump administration, this relationship has become increasingly complex and challenging. In February, Prime Minister Keir Starmer’s team emerged from a meeting with Trump in the White House’s East Room, elated at what they thought was a diplomatic coup. However, this confidence was misplaced, and the UK government’s attempts to navigate the relationship have been marked by naivety and hubris.
The Extremism of the Trump Administration
The Trump administration is more extreme than many in the UK government seem to realize. While Trump himself may present a cheerful face, many of his officials are more hardline in their views. For example, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio has stated that the administration is committed to protecting US interests, even if it means taking drastic action. The National Security Strategy (NSS) published in November claimed the Western hemisphere as an American fiefdom and lamented the "civilisational erasure" taking place in Europe. This kind of language is not just rhetoric; it reflects a genuine concern among US officials that the UK and Europe are being overrun with immigrants and that this poses a threat to US national security.
US Intervention in UK Affairs
The Trump administration is willing to intervene in UK affairs to protect what it sees as its civilisational heritage. This has been evident in the administration’s criticism of UK policies on free speech and immigration. For example, the US has offered political asylum to individuals who have been imprisoned in the UK for their views on immigration. The State Department has also instructed its diplomats in Europe to lobby against pro-migration policies. These actions demonstrate that the US is willing to use its leverage to shape UK policy and protect its interests.
The UK’s Options
The UK has three broad options for responding to the Trump administration’s approach. The first is to continue kowtowing to the White House, hoping that technological investment and protection for Ukraine will compensate for the ongoing humiliation. The second approach would be to ally with Germany and France in order to project European civilisational power in areas such as eastern Europe and North Africa. The third option would be to recognize the limitations of UK influence and retrench inwardly, focusing on domestic issues rather than trying to project power abroad.
The Conundrum Facing the UK
The Prime Minister is left with a conundrum. Keir Starmer has always been Trump’s antithesis, preferring a more lawyerly and process-oriented approach to politics. However, he must now navigate a world in which the rules-based order is being torn down. The UK’s decision to align more closely with the European single market is a step in the right direction, but it must also come to terms with its role in the EU and the implications of a federal European state. Ultimately, the UK must decide what kind of relationship it wants to have with the US and how it will navigate the challenges posed by the Trump administration.
Conclusion
In conclusion, the special relationship between the UK and the US has become increasingly complex and challenging under the Trump administration. The UK government’s attempts to navigate this relationship have been marked by naivety and hubris, and the country is facing a conundrum in terms of how to respond to the administration’s approach. The UK has three broad options, but it must ultimately decide what kind of relationship it wants to have with the US and how it will navigate the challenges posed by the Trump administration. As the UK stumbles through the new world that Trump has made, it is clear that the terms of the special relationship have fundamentally changed, and the UK must adapt to this new reality.