• EnderMB@lemmy.world
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    8 months ago

    I don’t really think there is a special relationship any more.

    Iraq war aside, there hasn’t really been much of a relationship. Brexit helped destroy this, because we’re now a tiny country begging for trade deals with nothing other than a weak pound and cheap labour to offer, with zero desire to engage with the US’s poor food standards and heavily privatised healthcare industry. Biden has been closer to Ireland, if anything, and probably for good reason.

    What is very surprising is that the US hasn’t engaged in a trade deal to install parts of their tech infrastructure here, or to allow US students cisa options to live/stay here, given the UK has world-class universities. Pair this with a UK-specific visa akin to what Australia has with the US, and it gives benefits to both sides.

    The special relationship was always a bit of a meme here in the UK anyway. Tony Blair was Bush’s lapdog, because it kept him looking powerful.