Britain's high military dependence on the United States is 'no longer tenable' and the UK must become increasingly independent of the special relationship with Washington, according to former Nato secretary general George Robertson.
Speaking at a Chatham House seminar, Lord Robertson said the traditional allies were diverging over values, and that even after Donald Trump leaves the White House, the separation was likely to continue. He highlighted Trump's unprovoked attack on Iran, tariffs on traditional allies, and the threat to acquire Greenland as examples of growing divergence between Westminster and Washington.
Robertson described the diplomatic tone from the White House as having reached a 'historic low point', with Trump's repeated public criticisms of the UK. He said Trump's unilateral actions suggested the post-war era of US stewardship of global rules and institutions 'may well be over'.
The former Labour defence minister emphasised that the UK must 'rapidly pivot to becoming a more autonomous military actor', working closely with European allies against Russia, and increase defence spending to 3.5 per cent 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 as the cross-party Lords international relations and defence committee, which he chairs, published a report stating the special relationship was 'under greater strain today than at any point since the second world war'. The Ministry of Defence faces an £18bn funding gap in its ten-year defence investment plan.
