Britain would always choose US over China, but alliance strains cannot be ignored: Expert

By Burak Bir

LONDON (AA) - The UK would always choose the US over China if forced to pick between the two, but British officials cannot ignore the fact that America has been “less than a good ally” over the past year, according to an expert.

The so-called “special relationship” between the US and UK has come under renewed scrutiny during US President Donald Trump’s administration, amid sharp criticism over freedom of speech, tariff threats linked to Greenland, the Chagos Islands deal, and controversial remarks about NATO’s role in Afghanistan.

Despite strained ties, the two countries continue to maintain deep bilateral relations. At the same time, British Prime Minister Keir Starmer is on a three-day visit to Beijing aimed at creating “opportunities” that will “benefit” the UK.

The visit, taking place amid heightened transatlantic tensions, has raised questions about whether it could mark a reset in UK-China relations, as Starmer becomes the first British prime minister to visit Beijing since 2018.

According to Wyn Rees, a professor at the University of Nottingham’s School of Politics and International Relations, Britain’s relationship with the US -- particularly in intelligence sharing and nuclear cooperation -- remains “substantive and long-standing and very, very deep.”

“But then there's the kind of year-to-year, day-to-day political relationship between the two, and certainly during this second Trump administration that has been extremely tempestuous and problematic,” he told Anadolu.

Addressing the UK’s position amid the Trump administration’s approach to alliances, Rees said Starmer has tried, as much as possible, to steer a middle course between tensions involving Europe and the US.

However, he noted that disputes such as those over Greenland and the Chagos Islands deal have left the UK feeling “very, very uncomfortable indeed.”

The UK was among eight European countries threatened with tariffs by Trump over Greenland, while Starmer was forced to withdraw the Chagos Islands bill following backlash from Trump.

In May, the UK and Mauritius signed an agreement transferring sovereignty of the Indian Ocean archipelago to Mauritius, while allowing the US and UK to continue operating the strategically important Diego Garcia military base for the next 99 years.

- Allies think they can’t ‘trust Americans completely anymore’

Turning to UK-China relations, Rees recalled how then-Prime Minister Boris Johnson was compelled to remove Chinese telecommunications firm Huawei from the UK’s 5G network in 2020 following significant pressure from the first Trump administration.

He said there have been several instances in which Britain faced pressure over its relationship with China, but argued that the dynamic has shifted as the current US administration has taken an increasingly hardline stance toward its allies.

Rees said he believes many allies now feel they cannot “trust the Americans completely anymore,” prompting them to pursue relations with other global powers, including China, where they still have interests.

He added that European countries no longer feel they can rely on the current US administration and are therefore expanding engagement with other international actors.

“And I think it's justifiable. I don't think the British have been willing to see China in the way that the Americans have wanted us to see China as a threat,” he said.

Rees said the UK has instead described China as a “challenge” and as a country with which Britain needs to maintain a workable day-to-day relationship and cooperate in certain areas, “whilst acknowledging that China has the kind of political system that means you will always be regarded as a potential adversary.”

- ‘Relationship with America is extremely strong’

Despite strained transatlantic ties and efforts to enhance relations with other actors, China would not replace the US as Britain’s preferred partner, Rees said.

“I think the British, if they're ever presented with a simple America or China kind of choice, they will always choose America, because the relationship with America is extremely strong,” he said.

He noted that despite pressure from Trump on various issues, Britain has increasingly come to rely on the US in recent years.

Referring to nuclear modernization efforts, renewed purchases of US equipment, participation in the Joint Strike Fighter program, and strong foreign direct investment ties, Rees said these factors have left Britain “deeply entwined” with the US.

“So if America forces us into a choice, we will always choose America. But no British prime minister, no national security advisor, can ignore the fact that for the past year, America has been less than a good ally,” he added.

Rees said the US has threatened the UK with trade tariffs and has taken actions that risk undermining NATO, which Britain relies on for its security.

“In all those ways, the British are looking to keep as good a relationship as they possibly can with China, notwithstanding all the kinds of tensions that Britain has with China over a variety of issues, from human rights to threats to Taiwan, etc.,” he said.

Rees added that the UK stands to gain trade and economic benefits from China, stressing that Beijing remains a major global power and that unnecessary tensions should be avoided.

“But as I go back to the point at flat choice between China or America, it will always be America,” he reiterated.