Special relationship

The special relationship is the phrase used to characterize the warm political, diplomatic, historical, and cultural relations between the United States and British Commonwealth nations. (See the article Anglo-American relations for an overview of relations between the two countries in general). The phrase was more frequently used by British commentators to mean the United Kingdom and the United States, of which more below; and it is the chief benefit-in-action of the Anglosphere. It is now used to describe the close relationship between Tony Blair and George W. Bush.

Current status

Recent events have served to highlight the nature of the special relationship by increasing the importance of Britain in relation to the US. Following the September 11th Attacks in New York and Washington DC, British Prime Minister Tony Blair flew to Washington. In a speech to the United States Congress, nine days after the attack, President Bush declared "America has no truer friend than Great Britain." Following that speech Blair embarked on two months of diplomacy gathering international support for military action. The BBC estimates that, in total, the prime minister held 54 meetings with world leaders and travelled more than 40,000 miles (60,000 km).

Related Topics:
September 11th Attacks - New York - Washington DC - British Prime Minister - Tony Blair - United States Congress - President - Bush - BBC

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

President Bush also said Britain was America's "closest friend in the world" in a November 2003 in the Banqueting House in London. Of course President Bush also emphasises close ties to other countries, for example "We have no greater friend than Mexico" (September 2001), and "We have no better friend than Canada" (February 2002). Traditionally, a new president meets the leaders of the US's neighbours before those of other nations.

Related Topics:
2003 - Banqueting House - 2001 - 2002

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Prime Minister Tony Blair's involvement in the war in Iraq has damaged his standing at home (both in the country at large, and especially within his own party) and in Europe but will buttress the relationship at least to the end of his term in office due to the re-election of George W. Bush. It was supposed that Third Way/Clintonesque Blair and the Republican Bush would have little common ground but in fact their shared beliefs and responses to the international situation following September 2001 9/11 (their previous meetings were stiff and awkward) formed the commonality of purpose so important to the special relationship. Blair, like Bush was convinced of the importance of moving against the new threat both perceived to international order. Warm personal relations apparently followed.

Related Topics:
Iraq - Third Way - 9/11

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

The presidential election of 2004 presented Blair with a political dilemma. The Labour Party has traditional ideological links with the Democrats. Blair therefore, could not demonstrate any preference of candidate in the election. Although the majority of his party were backing Kerry, the Prime Minster was unable to voice such support for fear of damaging relations with Bush if he were to be re-elected. On the other hand, supporting Bush would have damaged links between Labour and the Democrats as well as infuriating a large proportion of backbench Labour MPs, many of whom are highly critical of Blair's relationship with Bush. Such sentiments are shared largely by the British public.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Most recently, in welcoming Bush's re-election in November 2004, Blair made clear that he expected a renewed effort in the Middle East peace process and a more sympathetic stance towards environmental issues. These issues will establish a benchmark against which Bush's willingness to galvanise American policy at British request can be measured and demonstrate whether Britain has actually made any political capital from its involvement in Iraq.

Related Topics:
November 2004 - Middle East

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~