United Kingdom
Comprised of England, Northern Ireland, Scotland, and Wales, the United Kingdom (UK) is a long-time friend and ally of the United States. As Brexit upends British politics, the traditional US-UK relationship remains more vital than ever to both countries and the larger transatlantic community. Despite wrestling with internal challenges, the UK plays an important leadership role in the international system as a permanent member of the United Nations Security Council, a NATO leader, and the bridge between Europe and the United States on issues of defense, security, sanctions, and trade.
FEATURED COMMENTARY & ANALYSIS

Dispatches
Apr 27, 2026
Can King Charles’s state visit to the US help mend the special relationship?
By
Ed Owen
The British monarch’s visit comes as relations between Washington and London are at their lowest point in decades.
New Atlanticist
Sep 19, 2025
Three things to note in the UK’s new Defence Industrial Strategy
By
Deborah Cheverton
“Defence is an Engine for Growth,” according to an important new British military strategy published on September 8.
New Atlanticist
Jul 17, 2025
Macron and Starmer have a plan to reset Anglo-French relations. What’s in this ‘Entente Industrielle’?
By
Philippe Dickinson
The French president’s three-day trip to the United Kingdom saw several notable and welcome announcements. But the real test will be what comes next.
