British Ambassador Claims Israel Is Now the US’s Real ‘Special Relationship’

Leaked comments from the British ambassador to the US suggesting that Washington’s “only real special relationship” is with Israel – and not with Britain – have sparked political backlash in London.

Sir Christian Turner reportedly told a group of British students earlier in 2026 that the United States’ only real “special relationship” is “probably Israel,” not the United Kingdom, according to leaked audio first reported by the Financial Times.

The comments, made privately but leaked publicly during King Charles III and Queen Camilla’s high-profile visit to Washington and New York amid efforts to repair strained relations, have put Britain’s position in Washington under renewed scrutiny at a particularly sensitive diplomatic moment.

Turner reportedly emphasized that Britain’s ties with the US remain deeply intertwined, especially in defense and security.

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“There is a deep history and affinity between us. We are especially intertwined in the areas of defense and security.” according to leaked audio quoted by British media. “The relationship will remain ‘special’ if you like, but I think it will have to be different.”

Turner also said, according to the transcript, that Britain and Europe should “work to redefine” their relationship with Washington, especially on defense, rather than relying on a US security umbrella.

The leak comes after recent tensions between Trump and British Prime Minister Keir Starmer, including disagreements over Britain’s stance on US-Israeli military action against Iran. Trump previously publicly criticized Starmer, saying he was “not Winston Churchill”.

The wide-ranging informal discussion, the spokesperson explained, focused on diplomacy and the political issues of the day that students were asking questions about, stressing that the comments were clearly never intended as official statements of government policy.

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President Donald Trump speaks with British King Charles III during a state dinner in the East Room of the White House in Washington, DC, April 28, 2026. (Aaron Schwartz/AFP)

Yet the controversy raises broader questions that extend beyond diplomatic optics: whether the symbolic “special relationship” between Washington and London has been overshadowed by more immediate US strategic priorities, particularly Israel’s central role in security calculations in the US Middle East.

Barak Seener, a senior fellow at the London-based Henry Jackson Society, said Turner’s comments reflected a harsh strategic reality rather than a diplomatic blunder.

Sener pointed to his recent report“Israel 2048: A Blueprint for Asymmetric Geopolitical Power,” which argues that Israel’s growing military capabilities are increasingly functioning as a force multiplier for US regional interests. In contrast, Seener argued that Britain’s modern strategic value has weakened despite the historical rhetoric.

“King Charles was forced in his recent speech to the US Congress to emphasize the shared culture and history of Britain and the US rather than recent military contributions, simply because Britain’s naval and military capabilities have been completely eroded,” Seener said.

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King Charles made history as the second British monarch to address Congress, after his mother, the late Queen Elizabeth, did so for the first time in 1991. (Henry Nicholls/POOL/AFP via Getty Images)

He added that Charles’s invocation of past shared sacrifices “has no relevance today,” given Britain’s reported refusal to allow American use of the Royal Air Force. basis for attacks on Iran.

“The events of this visit are unprecedented in scale and spectacle, and the President enjoyed hosting a wonderful state dinner last night,” she added.