UK Ambassador Says Israel Has US Special Relationship

Sir Christian Turner, Britain's ambassador to the United States, told a group of visiting British students in Washington in February that the only country with a true special relationship with America is probably Israel. The private remarks, covertly recorded and leaked this week, surfaced as King Charles III began a state visit to Washington and New York aimed at strengthening bilateral ties.

Turner, who assumed the ambassadorial post shortly after his predecessor Peter Mandelson was dismissed over ties to Jeffrey Epstein, made the comments during a question-and-answer session with sixth-form students. He described the phrase "special relationship," long used to characterize UK-US links, as "quite nostalgic, quite backwards-looking, and it has a lot of baggage about it."

"I think there is probably one country that has a special relationship with the United States, and that is probably Israel," Turner said. He acknowledged enduring bonds between Britain and the US, noting a "deep history and affinity," particularly in defense and security where the nations are "intertwined." Still, he advised that Europe must redefine its approach to Washington rather than relying on an American...