Britain’s high military dependence on the United States is “no longer tenable” and the UK must become increasingly independent of the special relationship, according to former Nato secretary general George Robertson. Speaking at a Chatham House seminar, Lord Robertson said the diplomatic tone from the White House had reached a “historic low” and that the two allies were likely to keep diverging even after Donald Trump leaves office.
Robertson highlighted Trump’s unprovoked attack on Iran, tariffs on traditional allies, and the threat to wrest Greenland from Denmark as evidence of a growing divergence between Westminster and Washington. He warned that the postwar era in which the US acted as a global steward “may well be over”.
The former Labour defence minister said the UK “must rapidly pivot to becoming a more autonomous military actor”, working closely with European allies against Russia, and lift defence spending to 3.5% of GDP by 2035. He noted that Germany is on track to spend twice as much on defence as the UK by 2029.
Robertson’s comments come amid an £18bn funding gap in the UK’s ten-year defence investment plan. The cross-party Lords international relations and defence committee, which he chairs, published a report stating the special relationship is “under greater strain today than at any point since the second world war”.
Kim Darroch, a former UK ambassador to Washington, said it was inevitable that prime ministers would sometimes make political appointments to the post, referring to Peter Mandelson’s appointment as ambassador. US ambassador Warren Stephens responded that the White House national security strategy prioritises supporting allies in preserving European freedom and security.
