UK Ambassador to US States Israel Holds America's 'Special Relationship' in February Remarks

Sir Christian Turner, the UK's ambassador to the United States, informed a group of students in February that the concept of a 'special relationship' with Washington was 'quite nostalgic' and laden with 'baggage'. He stated, 'I think there is probably one country that has a special relationship with the United States, and that is probably Israel.'

These remarks, made during a discussion on transatlantic ties, were reported this week by the Financial Times. Their public disclosure coincided with King Charles III’s state visit to the US, a trip designed to smooth relations following the US and Israeli initiation of the Iran war on 28 February, which included strikes killing hundreds of civilians and 110 children at an Iranian primary school.

The Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) dismissed Sir Christian’s comments as 'private, informal' and not reflective of the government’s official stance. Despite this, Sir Christian also acknowledged a 'deep history and affinity' between the US and UK, particularly in security and defence, noting unique joint operations.

Sir Christian conveyed that while he did not foresee a 'moment of rupture' for the two nations, he believed they were 'certainly at the end of an era and the era is changing'. This shift comes as Western foreign policy in the Middle East continues to centre on securing oil and gas interests, maintaining client regimes like the Gulf monarchies, and sustaining Israel as a strategic military outpost with extensive diplomatic, financial, and military backing. The International Criminal Court has issued arrest warrants for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and former Defence Minister Yoav Gallant on charges of war crimes and crimes against humanity, with the International Court of Justice hearing genocide proceedings against Israel.