As the US marks 250, does the special relationship still exist – or is the UK just irrelevant?
On America's 250th birthday, this article examines the state of the US-UK special relationship, contrasting Britain's declining economic and military clout with its enduring cultural influence across the Atlantic.
Historical duality
250 years ago, John Adams, the first US ambassador to Britain, tremblingly met King George III, showing deference to a people his nation had just defeated. Today, President Donald Trump embodies a similar contradiction – praising the “special relationship” while ridiculing Prime Minister Keir Starmer and declaring “the UK is dying.”
Economic and military gap
The economic divergence is stark. US per capita GDP has risen from $48,000 in 2007 to $85,000 in 2024, while the UK’s has stagnated from $51,000 to $53,000, compounded by Brexit. Militarily, the US will spend $921 billion this year, nearly ten times the UK’s $94 billion. Historian David Reynolds notes, “The UK doesn’t have the clout it used to – that’s a fact of life.”
Cultural influence remains strong
Culturally, however, Britain punches above its weight. In Hollywood, Christopher Nolan, Emerald Fennell, Florence Pugh and Benedict Cumberbatch are prominent. On TV, British-created shows like “Succession” and “Industry” have been hits. British media executives lead top US outlets: Emma Tucker at The Wall Street Journal, John Micklethwait at Bloomberg News, and Keith Poole at the New York Post. Bari Weiss of CBS News is recruiting British talent. Joanna Coles, of the Daily Beast, attributes this to Britain’s small size and its culture of wit and storytelling.
Perspectives
Nobel laureate Simon Johnson observes that Americans are largely indifferent to the UK, exemplified by their confusion about Scotland’s soccer team. He blames American exceptionalism. Yet Coles points to a long tradition of British talent looking outward, from Tina Brown to Christopher Nolan.
