U.S.-UK special relationship suffers ahead of royal state visit
British Prime Minister Keir Starmer (R) and US President Donald Trump (L) shake hands as Starmer finishes his opening speech and hands it over to Trump at a business event at Checkers in Aylesbury, central England, on the second day of the US President’s second State Visit, on September 18, 2025.
Andrew Caballero-Reynolds | AFP | Getty Images
A year ago, Britain was negotiating a trade deal with Washington, and President Donald Trump’s fondness for his mother’s birthplace suggested a positive outlook for the two countries’ unusually close diplomatic relations.
The UK became the first country to sign a trade deal with the US in May 2025; Despite his political differences with British Prime Minister Keir Starmer, leader of the left-wing Labor Party and a former human rights lawyer, he enjoyed extremely good relations with the White House and its volatile leader.
But a year later, things look different.
The president’s tariff policies, provocative threats against Greenland (a semi-autonomous region of NATO ally Denmark) and war against Iran have tested old alliances.
Trump criticized NATO allies for not supporting military operations against Iran, specifically singling out Britain, denigrating its military, domestic and foreign policies and questioning its loyalty.
How is the relationship? It’s this relationship: When we asked them for help, they weren’t there. They weren’t there when we needed them. They weren’t there when we didn’t need them. And they’re still not there.
US President Donald Trump
King III. Even as Charles and Queen Camilla prepare for a journey state visit In a statement to the US at the end of April, Trump warned this week that Britain’s trade deal, which provides it with a basic 10% import duty, could fall apart.
“We gave them a good trade deal. Better than what I should have done. It can always be changed. But we gave them a very good trade deal because they have so many problems.” Trump told Sky NewsHe added that although he liked Starmer, the US-UK “special relationship” was “better”.
“This is sad,” Trump said.
The UK likes to describe its ties with the US as a “special relationship”, a phrase coined by Winston Churchill in 1946. This relationship appeared unusually strong in recent history, such as during the presidencies of Ronald Reagan and George W. Bush, who established strong personal relationships with Prime Ministers Margaret Thatcher and Tony Blair, respectively.
Trump said in his Truth Social post: “What’s the relationship like? Here’s the relationship: When we asked for help, they weren’t there. When we needed them, they weren’t there. When we didn’t need them, they weren’t there. And they’re still not there.”
But this week he described the king as follows: “a wonderful person” a “friend” whom he respected “very much”.
However, Sky News noted that the monarch’s visits took place at the behest of the British government.
Is England finding its voice?
Starmer and finance minister Rachel Reeves say UK won’t get He was “dragged” into the Iran war, which was very unpopular with European leaders.
Starmer doubled down on his position on Wednesday when asked to comment on Trump’s threat to withdraw the trade deal, telling MPs he “will not bow” to pressure from the White House. His comments came before Iran declared the Strait of Hormuz fully open to commercial traffic during a ceasefire between Israel and Lebanon.
“I don’t believe this conflict has made the world a safer place,” Reeves said. CNBC’s Investing in America forum when asked about the war earlier this week. “It has been unclear for the last six weeks exactly what the purpose of this conflict is,” he added.
He called the war a “mistake”.
Trump views Europe’s reluctance to assist in military operations in Iran as disloyalty and ungratefulness, especially in the context of US support for Ukraine. Meanwhile, Britain and its European counterparts are unhappy about further damage to their economies following the blows from tariffs and the Ukraine war.
Starmer, Reeves and the Bank of England were betting that persistent inflationary pressures would finally ease and the economy would begin to recover, interest rates would fall and the burden of living on households and businesses would ease.
But Trump’s war against Iran has taken its toll. The UK is a net energy importer and the rise in global energy prices caused by the de facto closure of the Strait of Hormuz will hit its economy hard.
“First and foremost on my mind are the families and businesses in the United Kingdom who are having to deal with higher prices and higher borrowing costs today because of this conflict,” Reeves told CNBC’s Sara Eisen on Wednesday.
Stating that the UK feels very strongly, the Minister said, “Re-opening the Strait of Hormuz so that ships can pass through this strait freely and safely, reducing tensions so that we can bring oil and gas back to the global market and start reducing interest rates is now the main priority.” [regarding borrowing costs] “This has increased over the last six weeks.”
Reeves said the US and UK still had a “very good relationship”, adding: “We don’t always have to agree on everything.”
The British government hopes that the royal state’s visit, which took place at the behest of the British government, can iron out any wrinkles in relations. A Buckingham Palace spokesman said this week that the trip would recognize “the challenges facing the UK, the US and our allies around the world”.
“This visit is a moment to reaffirm and renew our bilateral ties as we address these challenges together in the UK’s national interest.”
