The Eu or the Special Relationship?
The EU or “the special relationship”?
Britain has always had a special relationship with the US, but over the past decades Britain has also build up a relationship with the countries on the European continent. Whether Britain should be closest to Europe and the EU, or the US is something that the Britons cannot decide on. Though, I will in this paper discuss and try to give some answers on why Britain over the years has had such a close link with the US. I will also take a look at Britains role within the European Union.
One of the first times the phrase “special relationship” was used between the US and Britain, was in Winston Churchills speech at Westminster College, Missouri in March 1946 (Phrases.org.uk). The phrase refers to the special link between the two nations based on history, language, intelligence sharing, economy, politics and military among others. Also, Britain and the United States share “major foreign and security policy objectives”, and frequently discuss on foreign policy topics and global problems (State.gov). In addition, US invested in 2007 total $399 billion at the same time as Britain had direct investments in the US at total $411 billion. This result in the fact that the US and Britain share the largest overseas investment partnership in the entire world (State.gov). However, the relationship has not always been the best and it is a fact that the personal relationship between the Prime Minister of Britain and the President of the Unites States at the present moment is all or nothing to obtain a good bond between the nations.
Britain and the US have stood by each others side since people from Britain migrated to USA in the 16th and 17th century. They have been through many wars alongside but also as opponents. Summarized, the relationship between them, in a political point of view, has been very turbulent throughout the years.
The Unites States of America became during World War II deeply involved, and at this point their close collaboration with Britain was established. After World War II the United States of America and Britain was two of the founding members of the United Nations, and two of the permanent members of the Security Council (Wikipedia.org, A). They stood by each other against the Soviet Union, which led to an even closer collaboration between the two countries, and the creation of NATO. In the same period the British Empire went to an end all over the world, and the US then became next to the Soviet Union one of two superpowers in the world. As USAs most important partner on the Western side of the Cold War, United Kingdom appeared, and they had the 1958 US-UK Mutual Defense Agreement together. Under United Nations command both countries were involved in the Korean War, but as Americas concentration leaned towards their competition against the Soviets and the Vietnam War the