The special relationship between the UK and the US – Can it survive? by Guy Coker

The White House had initially portrayed Trump’s visit in the UK trip as chance to reaffirm the "steadfast and special relationship” that has historically remained between the UK and the USA. I believe that given the current circumstances, this relationship can be maintained.

The Anglo-American heritage of royal baby Archie links the two nations culturally more than ever. Trump’s state visit falls on the 75th anniversary of the D-Day landings, arguably the premise of the countries’ solid partnership, which will reignite people’s minds about the relationship’s importance.

My main concern lies in the actual background surrounding the visit. Theresa May is leaving in just over a month and there is grave uncertainty over who will replace her and successfully carry through the equally uncertain Brexit. It’s a crisis that looms, leaving the UK in a delicate situation now.

The “relationship” the UK shares with its allied superpower may be “extraordinary” as Trump described today, but it has been tested. Perhaps a key example of that this year is the split decision over tech giant Huawei, which is distrusted by the USA (it banned the company from government contracts in 2014). The USA starkly warned its allies (including the UK) that it would share less intelligence with nations that used Huawei networks. The UK instead chose to ignore this and employ the use of the company’s technology to power its new 5G network.

Will this act of defiance affect the “special relationship”? I don’t think so, partly because the joint UK-USA news conference earlier today saw Trump agree to protect intelligence sharing despite the countries’ differences. Still, it does call into question how much of an alliance between the two countries is still present, since the USA was willing to go so far as to threaten its allies in order to gain their support.

Perhaps this was what Trump’s visits have been for, to try and quell such divisions. What cannot be fully ignored is the tension between the UK’s political nation and the President. In both of Trump’s UK visits, he managed to insult May’s handling of Brexit (which he apologised for only last year) and yesterday he bandied words with Mayor Sadiq Khan, branding him a “stone cold loser” on Twitter shortly before Air Force One touched down on British soil.

 MP’s were also quick to react to the President’s mere presence in the country. Two high-profile political figures followed Jeremy Corbyn in boycotting the state banquet last night: House of Commons Speaker John Bercow and Liberal Democrat leader Sir Vince Cable.

It’s a bit hard to forget the colossal balloon of “baby Trump” displayed at Parliament Square earlier today after a yearlong hiatus. The relationship the UK has with Trump’s administration must be quite “special” for such things to occur. We can be sure that anti-Trump sentiments are still fresh in the UK, with large-scale protests having been planned in several UK cities during Trump’s brief time in the country. Even earlier this morning, there was a "national demonstration" at Trafalgar Square.

However, I am inclined to believe they won’t leave a lasting impact on the UK-US personal alliance. Trump simply branded these protests as “very small” and “fake news”. It is more likely that he sees the potential for a greater business partner in the UK post-Brexit, that is what makes the countries’ relationship so vital.

I believe that this “special relationship” will persist. Trump’s ongoing visit in the UK is a useful chance to renew the “marriage vows” between both nations in such a critical time in politics. The D-Day celebrations tomorrow on the 5th June will serve as a reminder of why the special relationship should not waver in difficult times when it was founded in much more dire ones. I see the only real threat to the survival of the special relationship is who will become the next “guardian” of the  precious and profound friendship” between the UK and the USA. The Brexit saga must end sooner rather than later while Trump is eyeing the business potential in the UK.