UK-US bilateral relationship

Strong defence, security and trade ties between the United States and the United Kingdom, in particular since the Second World War, have created a close and enduring alliance between the two countries, in what Winston Churchill coined as the “special relationship”.

Both countries are NATO allies, and permanent members of the United Nations Security Council, as well as sharing membership of influential international organisations such as the G7 and G20, which they often use as forums for advancing shared foreign-policy goals.

The close defence relationship between the US and the UK, particularly in the area of nuclear cooperation, is underpinned by international treaties such as the UK-US Mutual Defence Agreement, and the agreements supporting the AUKUS defence and security partnership between Australia, the United Kingdom and the United States.

Informal mechanisms such as the Five Eyes intelligence sharing alliance, are also central to these shared ties and close cooperation between the two allies.

Bilateral trade between the US and UK is significant. Looking at individual countries, the US is by far the largest export market for the UK, accounting for more than a fifth of its total exports (goods and services). The UK and US do not have a free trade agreement (FTA). The previous Conservative Government and the current Labour Government have both expressed ambitions to negotiate some form of trade deal with the US, though possibly one more narrowly scoped than a full FTA.