FEATURED COMMENTARY & ANALYSIS

A Much Less Special Relationship

New Atlanticist
Jul 16, 2025

Reading between the lines of the new France-UK nuclear entente

By
Léonie Allard

French President Emmanuel Macron and British Prime Minister Kier Starmer released a “truly historic” declaration on nuclear planning on July 10.

France
Nuclear Deterrence

A Much Less Special Relationship

New Atlanticist
May 27, 2025

British ambassador to the US: The UK must ‘become less dependent on America, while remaining inseparably linked’

By
Peter Mandelson

In speaking at the Atlantic Council’s 2025 Christopher J. Makins Lecture, Peter Mandelson outlined how the United Kingdom and the rest of Europe can foster peace through military, economic, and technological strength.

Conflict
Defense Industry

A Much Less Special Relationship

New Atlanticist
Jan 27, 2025

The case for a US-UK trade and investment agreement

By
L. Daniel Mullaney

As US President Donald Trump begins his second term, the United Kingdom is the right partner for the United States, and now is the right time for a deal.

Economy & Business
Politics & Diplomacy

Featured Event

Public Event
Tue, May 27, 2025 • 9:00 am ET

The Rt Hon Lord Mandelson on Britain in an enduring transatlantic relationship

British Ambassador to the United States The Rt Hon Lord Mandelson speaks at the 2025 Christopher J. Makins lecture to discuss the significance of the transatlantic relationship during this unprecedented geopolitical period.

Economy & Business
Europe & Eurasia
Politics & Diplomacy
Security & Defense


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Content

Ed Miliband at Labour Party conference, September 2010

NATOSource

Sep 10, 2013

A Much Less Special Relationship

By Roger Cohen, New York Times

Britain’s decision not to stand with the United States, its closest ally, in possible military action to punish the Syrian regime for a deadly chemical weapons attack marks a watershed moment

European Union International Organizations
Britain's nuclear deterrent remains "crucial" to NATO

NATOSource

Sep 10, 2013

NATO: UK Nuclear Might ‘Crucial’

By Express

Britain must not take advantage of the winding down of operations in Afghanistan to trim spending on defence, the head of Nato has warned.

NATO Security & Defense
LTC POL AF Paul does his F-16 walkaround inspection before flight in Exercise Brilliant Arrow

NATOSource

Sep 9, 2013

NATO Concludes Air Training Exercise, Brilliant Arrow

By Allied Command Operations

One of the largest NATO air training events of the year, Exercise Brilliant Arrow, took place at Orland Airbase, in Norway from 25 Aug to 5 Sep 2013.

France Germany

New Atlanticist

Sep 5, 2013

Is the Special Relationship Dead?

By Julian Lindley-French

Is the Anglo-American special relationship dead? In the wake of Parliament’s 29 August decision to block the use of British forces in any US-led strike on Syria British officers were ejected from planning meetings at US Central Command (CENTCOM). At this week’s G20 meeting in St Petersberg President Obama will pointedly have a private meeting […]

United Kingdom United States and Canada
British Prime Minister David Cameron

NATOSource

Aug 30, 2013

Britain Drifts Towards Isolation

By Richard Haass, Financial Times

The British Parliament’s rejection of a motion endorsing UK participation in expected military action against Syria is nothing less than stunning – an event with a political significance that transcends the immediate debate

Europe & Eurasia NATO
President Barack Obama

NATOSource

Aug 30, 2013

US Seeks Allies as UK Shuns Syria Action in Shock Vote

By Lorna Shaddick, FRANCE 24

The United States is still seeking an “international coalition” in response to Syria’s alleged use of chemical weapons, despite a vote against military action by British MPs, US Defence Secretary Chuck Hagel said on Friday.

France Syria
President of France Francois Hollande

NATOSource

Aug 30, 2013

Despite UK Vote, France Backs Action in Syria

By David Gauthier-Villars, Wall Street Journal

France sent a clear signal on Friday that it was preparing strikes against the regime of Bashar al-Assad, with President François Hollande saying the Syrian government’s alleged use of chemical weapons against its own people cannot go unpunished.

France International Organizations
British Prime Minister David Cameron

NATOSource

Aug 30, 2013

UK Prime Minister David Cameron Loses Parliamentary Vote on Syrian Military Strike

By Anthony Faiola, Washington Post

Invoking the specter of the Iraq war, British lawmakers on Thursday rejected military action in Syria, dealing a stunning blow to Prime Minister David Cameron and effectively ruling Washington’s staunchest military ally out of any U.S.-led strike.

Syria United Kingdom
UK Foreign Minister William Hague

NATOSource

Aug 29, 2013

UK Foreign Minister: ‘We Cannot Allow the Use of Chemical Weapons’

By William Hague, Telegraph

We all live under the protection of this global system of arms control, just as the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty has spared us from the threat of nuclear holocaust, which blighted my parents’ generation.

Syria United Kingdom
USAF KC-135R Stratotanker at Incirlik air base

NATOSource

Aug 28, 2013

Turkey may Open İncirlik Base for NATO Mission in Syria

By Murat Yetkin, Hurriyet Daily News

Turkey may open its strategic İncirlik air base for possible military operations into neighboring Syria, if the Western defense alliance NATO decides for an intervention in the ongoing civil war, a ranking Turkish official told the Hürriyet Daily News on Aug. 26.

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James Batchik

Associate Director

Europe Center

Central Europe Digital Policy

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Giovana Cardoso

Assistant Director, Development

Digital Forensic Research Lab

Brazil Human Rights

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Deborah Cheverton

Nonresident Senior Fellow

Forward Defense Scowcroft Center for Strategy and Security

Afghanistan Defense Industry

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Robert Bassett Cross MC

Nonresident Senior Fellow

Forward Defense Scowcroft Center for Strategy and Security

Defense Industry Defense Policy

Fellow

Jason Davidson

Nonresident Senior Fellow

Scowcroft Center for Strategy and Security Transatlantic Security Initiative

Europe & Eurasia European Union

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Philippe Dickinson

Deputy Director

Scowcroft Center for Strategy and Security Transatlantic Security Initiative

Chinese East Asia
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