Should the UK rethink its 'special relationship ' with the US?

[FindingMeno]

There is ongoing speculation in the media that there are plans for the UK to allow the US to base their nuclear weapons on British soil at Lakenheath.
Do you believe this would be in the best interests of the UK or Europe as a whole?

Your thread title is misleading imo.

Those in the US who disagree with Trump need to speak up.

Yes. We are no closer to them than any other country. They've taken a dangerous path, and we are enabling.

Misleading in what way?

I’m not sure if anyone is particularly interested in Australia’s position atm. I read an article in the Guardian today which led with the stats that nearly 50% Danish citizens no longer trust the US and see it as a threat. Also, surprising to me was that the UK has indicated it could pull out of the security agreement between Australia, UK and US -known as AUKUS.

Denmark and Germany:

new reality is dawning for America’s traditional allies. That is reflected in Denmark, where nearly half the country sees the US as a direct threat – more so than Iran or North Korea. Similarly, the incoming German Chancellor, Friedrich Merz, has said: “My absolute priority will be to strengthen Europe as quickly as possible so that, step by step, we can really achieve independence from the USA ... I never thought I would have to say something like this”.

Australia and US:

Many Australians, too, and especially the Australian government, perhaps never thought that the US would become not just unreliable, but a nation that we might actually need some protection from. For the most part, Australian foreign and security policy has operated under the assumption that the US would always be there and that our interests would always converge.

Trump has made it clear that he does not care about us, our values or our interests. While Australia has (so far) avoided the worst excesses of the Trump administration, the new president has not done us any favours. He has so far failed to grant Australia any special carve-outs for blanket steel and aluminium tariffs, and has threatened retaliatory measures over domestic technology regulation. And asked about the albatross of Australian defence and security policy, the Aukus submarine pact, last week, Trump responded: “What does that mean?”

Trump is upending the world order that the US helped to create. He may also upend Australian foreign policy in the process. For 70 years, Australian foreign and security policy has revolved around the mythical security guarantee provided by the US. But as the horrifying spectacle in the White House over the weekend made clear, the America we thought we knew is gone. And we know it.

UK and Australia:
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Trump’s lack of interest is unsurprising. What is perhaps more unsettling is indications by the British government that it may walk back its Aukus commitments in order to refocus on Europe, given Trump’s clear undercutting of Nato.

(AUKUS is a new security agreement for the Pacific region etc. established to act as a deterrent to China. Australia has already handed over billions to the US for this. It looks like it’s going to die on the vine. At least if it does it will happen before Australia hands over the other $300 billion plus to the US.

I don't think we will allow them to put their nukes here in the short term - Trump is too aligned with Russia.

Starmer has also indicated that American companies will no longer be able to buy out British Defence companies - which is a very good thing.

I think defensively we will align much more closely with Europe and move away from the US - I also think Canada and Australia will be part of that coalition - again, a very good thing.

What would be great is if an EuAC alliance could provide the security guarantees to Ukraine in exchange for the minerals deal that was being offered to the US - it would be amazing for European industry and security moving forwards.

Take a close look how they are treating Canada the country they share a border with?
If this is how the Trump administration treats close/long term/partners know they will turn on all others, will not honor trade deals and will drop alliances as it suits them. Unstable leadership and untrustworthy.

The special relationship has gone. The US can no longer be trusted.

I’m not so sure about Australia - there was a bit in the guardian yesterday about the UK signalling that it might be withdrawing from the Aukus submarine defence agreement.

@BloominNora edited to make clear who I was responding to.

I don't think we have had a 'special relationship ' with the US for years; at least I don't think the US believe that.
I am not usually one to call for tax rises, but I think there should be an extra penny on income tax to be able to distance ourselves from the US.

Under the Trump regime, prices will go up across the world, and we will not be any safer with him in his role of POTUS, he has no regard for the rule of law, or any other country across the globe, unless it can benefit him. I wouldn't be surprised if he either ignores or changes the rule about nobody having more than 2 terms as president.

I think Trump already has.

I agree with @Hadalifeonce that there isn't really a special relationship with the US any longer especially from the American perspective. The reality is that the UK needs the US more than the US needs the UK.

Sure the UK could "rethink " or distance ourselves from the US but this would simply be a political "cutting your nose off to spite your face" in a similar way that "Brexit " was sticking two fingers up to the "establishment ".

Of course, you're correct. But Trump, like all authoritarians, is trying to ensure that no one dares to disagree.

I think we should go as softly as we can. Softly softly with smiles and open hands, still offering them compliments and state visits and anything gestural that makes them happy. Give them any good TV they want.

We should move swiftly and quietly to a wider Western Alliance - a free world alliance - without them. Just don't tell Fox News.

The only reason the US wants to put nukes in the UK is so that if there is a nuclear war it is fought over Europe rather than the US. Reagan made that clear during the Able Archer debacle. It was okay by him if Europe was destroyed as long as the USA emerged intact. America has never had any interest in protecting its allies. The only time NATO Article 5 was invoked was post-911.