PREFACE/ISSUE
Since past The Special Relationship between the USA and the UK was strong. During the 2022 there were no serious issues between those countries but then after Liz Truss UN speech suddenly the "special relationship" was put on hold. Why?
2021
Ben Wallace, Britain’s defence secretary, suggested the US could no longer be considered a superpower in an interview where he also contrasted his department’s handling of the Afghanistan crisis with that of the embattled Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office.
Asked whether the exit from Afghanistan demonstrated the limits of British power on the world stage, Wallace started by saying, “It is obvious that Britain is not a superpower,” then appeared to switch his focus to the US.
“But a superpower that is also not prepared to stick at something isn’t probably a superpower either. It is certainly not a global force, it’s just a big power,” the defence secretary added.
Former foreign secretary Jeremy Hunt warned on Thursday that a dangerous fault line had emerged in the US-UK special relationship, describing the withdrawal from Kabul as catastrophic and forced on the UK.
Biden has defended the withdrawal on the basis that the US must not be involved in nation-building, and their vital national interest ended when terrorists were defeated a decade ago.
[M: SIDE-COMMENT This is a 1st official confirmation for my #Mackinder #Roadblocks against Euro-Asian integration theory which is an antithesis to OBOR, described by me before 2015, has 8y validation. A chain of failed states on old SilkRoads - possible objectives of UK/UK is to create land choke-points of failed/weak states. I will write about it one day hopefully. Here is a short twitter post]
2022
Source: Research Gate
To conclude, the progress on Nord Stream 2 pipeline, pegged as mutually beneficial for Germany and Russia, is now dependent upon the resolution of the Russia-Ukraine crisis. The current geopolitical crisis has created a situation in which both Germany and Russia face huge socio-economic costs due to halt of the pipeline. However, the delay in the implementation of the project has pushed both Germany and Russia to diversify and seek new energy markets globally.
The UK and US have a long and special relationship based on shared ideals of open government, free speech and open markets. We work together on political affairs, including trade, finance, technology, education, arts and sciences. Our relationship is reinforced by close linguistic, historical and cultural ties. The UK and US partner to promote democracy, global security and peace keeping.The United States has no closer Ally than the United Kingdom. Following the end of the American Revolution in 1783, the United Kingdom officially recognized American independence, and in 1785 our two countries established diplomatic relations.
II. The Boris Johnson´s government and "Special Relationship" status in 2022 until his resignation in summer
June 2022 - The C.I.A. had warned European governments of potential attacks on pipelines.
The warning was not specific, the officials said, and they declined to say whether Russia was identified as a possible attacker.The C.I.A. issued a vague warning in June to a number of European nations, including Germany, that the two Nord Stream gas pipelines that carry natural gas from Russia could be targeted in forthcoming attacks, three senior officials familiar with the intelligence said on Tuesday.The German publication Der Spiegel was the first to report that the U.S. had provided what intelligence officials call “strategic warning” of a possible attack — a warning that came with no specifics about the likely time or place or manner of a potential strike.
7 July 2022 - After Johnson resigns, Biden says US-UK 'special relationship' remains 'strong'
18 July 2022 - US-UK special relationship deepens in space
28 July 2022 - UK-US ‘special relationship’ remains strong under Biden, new ambassador says
2 Sept 2021 - UK defence secretary suggests US is no longer a superpower
Ben Wallace, Britain’s defence secretary, suggested the US could no longer be considered a superpower in an interview where he also contrasted his department’s handling of the Afghanistan crisis with that of the embattled Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office.
Asked whether the exit from Afghanistan demonstrated the limits of British power on the world stage, Wallace started by saying, “It is obvious that Britain is not a superpower,” then appeared to switch his focus to the US. “But a superpower that is also not prepared to stick at something isn’t probably a superpower either. It is certainly not a global force, it’s just a big power,” the defence secretary added.
Former foreign secretary Jeremy Hunt warned on Thursday that a dangerous fault line had emerged in the US-UK special relationship, describing the withdrawal from Kabul as catastrophic and forced on the UK.
Biden has defended the withdrawal on the basis that the US must not be involved in nation-building, and their vital national interest ended when terrorists were defeated a decade ago.
Incoming Prime Minister promises to 'govern as a Conservative', as she pledges to tackle people's soaring bills and long term energy supply concerns
Ms Truss held the call with Mr Zelensky within hours of becoming Prime Minister.
It comes after US President Joe Biden congratulated Ms Truss on becoming Prime Minister and vowed to deepen the “special relationship” between the US and the UK.
President Joseph R. Biden Jr. spoke today with Prime Minister Liz Truss of the United Kingdom to offer his congratulations. The leaders reaffirmed the special relationship between our countries and expressed their readiness to further deepen those ties. President Biden and Prime Minister Truss discussed the importance of continued close cooperation on global challenges, including supporting Ukraine as it defends itself against Russian aggression, addressing the challenges posed by China, preventing Iran from ever acquiring a nuclear weapon, and securing sustainable and affordable energy resources.
The first act of new British Prime Minister Liz Truss on entering Downing Street was to call US President Joe Biden and reaffirm Britain’s backing of NATO’s proxy war in Ukraine against Russia.
Biden tweeted in response, “I look forward to deepening the special relationship between our countries and working in close cooperation on global challenges, including continued support for Ukraine as it defends itself against Russian aggression.”
The only continuation in personnel from Boris Johnson’s cabinet were Defence Secretary Ben Wallace and Armed Forced Minister James Heappey. Both have been instrumental in prosecuting war against Russia.
Liz Truss broke with recent convention: she called (on 6th of September) first Ukraine’s frontline leader Volodymyr Zelensky rather than the US President.
American officials have their eyebrows raised. British diplomats say Truss is “more American than the Americans” — a leader who wants a more aggressive Washington everywhere. White House staffers, however, think she wants more of an America that does not actually exist. That she doesn’t understand that Biden is the President who withdrew from Afghanistan and never wanted confrontation with Russia.
9 Sept 2022 - Britain’s Liz Truss will keep the US-UK ‘Special Relationship’ strong
13 Sept 2022 - King Charles and his 'special relationship' with the United States
17 Sept 2022 - U.S.-U.K. relations enter new chapter as prime minister and king settle in
Biden and Truss to meet not at queen’s funeral but at U.N. General Assembly on Wednesday
Meeting rearranged for Wednesday in New York as Bidens travel to UK for Queen’s funeral
The Prime Minister highlighted the role of the ‘energy price guarantee’ scheme as pressure from struggling businesses mount
Hours after the end of the period of national mourning, Liz Truss said that high energy bills are a “price worth paying” to boost the UK’s energy security.Liz Truss told reporters during her trip to the United Nations general assembly in New York: “The point I am making is that it’s a price worth paying for Britain because our long-term security is paramount.”
Liz Truss has arrived in the US where she will hold talks with Joe Biden, the US president, on her first foreign trip as UK prime minister.Ahead of the trip, Truss said: “Ukraine’s victories in recent weeks have been inspirational. Time and time again these brave people have defied the doubters and showed what they can do when given the military, economic and political support they need.“My message to the people of Ukraine is this: the UK will continue to be right behind you every step of the way. Your security is our security.”
20 Sept 2021 - Secretary Antony J. Blinken and UK Foreign Secretary Elizabeth Truss Before Their Meeting
Blinken:
I’m particularly pleased that we’re also meeting just when we’ve made the announcement on the lifting of travel restrictions, which is something we’ve been talking about for some time. Very pleased that Elizabeth (inaudible) with us and also to get going on a lot of work that we have to do together. So welcome. So very good to be with you.
Truss:
And I’m delighted to be meeting you to talk about how we deepen further our very important partnership in areas, of course, like the economy, but also our mutual security, so fantastic to be here.
20 Sept 2022 - Prime Minister announces the UK will meet or exceed the amount of military aid spent on Ukraine in 2022 next year.
...The Prime Minister said:
By turning off the taps of Nord Stream gas pipeline, Putin has consigned millions of people in Europe to a colder and more difficult winter.Too many lives – in Ukraine, in Europe and around the world – are being manipulated by a dependence on Russian energy. We need to work together to end this once and for all
19 Sep. 2022 - 23 Sep. 2022
[M: Note that on Friday 23rd a meeting with EU Leyen is announced for Monday 26th when the bombing happened]
01:00 min: "...Geopolitics is entering a new era.."
06:00 min: "We are cutting off the toxic power and pipelines from authoritarian regimes and strengthening our energy resilience."
[M What kid of "cutting off" is this? Of UK cutting itself off, which has been done already or cutting EU off the RU gas? Note that in September 2021 the UK Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy Kwasi Kwarteng told a parliamentary committee:
"We are not exposed to Russian supply as many of our EU counterparts are" ]
"We will ensure we cannot be coerced or harmed by the reckless actions of rogue actors abroad."
[M What kid of talk is this? That UK is ready to neuter any RU retaliation move?]"The free world needs this economic strength and resilience to push back against authoritarian aggression and win this new era of strategic competition.
We must do this together."
[M ?, looks to me as an appeal to people UK may have informed beforehand, IF UK is the culprit.]
We are fortifying our deep security alliances in Europe and beyond through NATO and the Joint Expeditionary Force.
[M ? The JEF is made to be deployed in short time on an exercise.]
08:30 min: "The UK is providing funding, using the might of the City of London and our security capabilities to provide better alternatives to those offered by malign regimes.
The resolute international response to Ukraine has shown how we can deliver decisive collective action.
The response has been built on partnerships and alliances and also on being prepared to use new instruments – unprecedented sanctions, diplomatic action, and rapid military support.
There has been a strength of collective purpose – we have met many times, spoken many times on the phone, we have made things happen.
Now we must use these instruments in a more systematic way to push back on the economic aggression of authoritarian regimes.
The G7 and our like-minded partners should act as an economic NATO, collectively defending our prosperity.
If the economy of a partner is being targeted by an aggressive regime we should act to support them. All for one and one for all.
12:00 min "In all these areas, on all of the fronts, the time to act is now. This is a decisive moment in our history, in the history of this organization and in the history of freedom...
The story of 2022 could have been that of an authoritarian state rolling its tanks over the border of a peaceful neighbour and subjugating its people.
Instead, it is the story of freedom fighting back.
In the face of rising aggression we have shown we have the power to act and the resolve to see it through.
But this cannot be a one-off.
This must be a new era in which we commit to ourselves, our citizens, and this institution that we will do whatever it takes – whatever it takes to deliver for our people and defend our values."
Britain’s commitment to this is total.
We will be a dynamic, reliable and trustworthy partner.
[M: Whoever signed the STATE ACTOR mission had to have consistent narrative and real constant objections against it. The UK has been for years most vocal and their PM was even speaking at UN assembly against pipelines and RU carbohydrates just a 5 days before the attack on those pipelines.]
21 Sept 2022 - PM meeting with President Joe Biden: 21 September 2022
The Prime Minister met US President Joe Biden at the UN General Assembly in New York today.
The leaders stressed the need to end over-reliance on authoritarian states in terms of our energy, technology and manufacturing supply chains.
They agreed to redouble bilateral efforts to reduce energy dependence on Russia and to increase the amount of renewable and other forms of energy flowing from democratic states.
21 Sept 2022 - Remarks by President Biden and Prime Minister Liz Truss of the United Kingdom Before Bilateral Meeting
V. Sudden reversal, the "Special Relationship" status is on hold
22 Sept 2022 - US considers suspending ‘special relationship’ label after Liz Truss visit
“We'll shut it down until we can figure out what's going on.”
The Prime Minister told fellow world leaders that the UK will spend 3% of GDP on defence by 2030, repeating a promise she made when she campaigned to become Tory leader.
She said: “In the face of rising aggression we have shown we have the power to act and the resolve to see it through. But this must not be a one-off. “This must be a new era in which we commit to ourselves, our citizens, and this institution that we will do whatever it takes – whatever it takes to deliver for our people and defend our values.”
23 Sept 2022 - Truss axes national security council, sparking ‘talking-shop’ concerns
Liz Truss has scrapped the national security council and merged it with two Boris Johnson-era foreign policy committees in a structure that Labour warned risked diluting the government’s security focus.
[M: Elaborating on this topic in a new post here]
23 Sept 2022 - <News about 21-09-2022 Liz Truss - Biden meeting>
Is the 'special relationship' all over? Joe Biden did not use the phrase during first meeting with Liz Truss, sparking rumour it is being 'retired'
The phrase has long stood for the enduring bond between the UK and US.
But Liz Truss’s first meeting with Joe Biden in Washington suggested the term ‘special relationship’ may be phased out as she launched her new foreign policy ethos.
The President did not utter the words, first used by Winston Churchill, during bilateral talks, but instead told her: ‘You’re our closest ally in the world.’
...Last night the White House denied the term had been ‘retired’ but offered to suspend its use, with an official saying: ‘We’ll shut it down until we can figure out what’s going on.’However, the exchange was in sharp contrast to when Miss Truss entered No 10 earlier this month.At the time, Mr Biden said he looked forward to ‘deepening the special relationship’ between the two nations.
Liz Truss’s first meeting with Joe Biden in Washington suggested the term ‘special relationship’ may be phased out. The two leaders held a bilateral meeting during the PM's visit to the US to attend 77th UN General Assembly
Biden:0:46 sec "...There is no wish we you like to think of a GLOBAL CONSEQUENCE that the United States and United Kingdom are not working in cooperation and I expect that we would be able to do that ... we spoke also about energy..."Truss, 3:00: "...we want to work more closely with US, especially in energy security on our economic security but also on reaching out to fellow democracies around the world to make sure that democracies prevail and we protect the freedom and future of our citizens..."
[M: What is the substance of reaching out what UK can not do itself?]
23 Sept 2022 - Truss axes national security council, sparking ‘talking-shop’ concerns
Liz Truss has scrapped the national security council and merged it with two Boris Johnson-era foreign policy committees in a structure that Labour warned risked diluting the government’s security focus.
[M: A post dedicated to this change is here]
VI. Few possibilities (speculation)
UK said to USA, EU, NATO
USA confronted UK and learned about it, shared info with EU
23 Sept 2022 - Readout of National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan’s Meeting with Frans Timmermans, Executive Vice President of the European Commission
National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan met today in Washington with Executive Vice President of the European Commission Frans Timmermans. They discussed our shared efforts to address the global climate crisis, including the recent U.S. passage of the Inflation Reduction Act and preparations for COP-27 in Egypt. They also discussed transatlantic cooperation to address Russia’s weaponization of energy and the need to ensure our ongoing efforts to meet acute near-term energy needs are matched by a redoubled commitment to accelerating the clean energy transition and reducing Europe’s dependence on fossil fuels.
...General, Mr. Jens Stoltenberg, will meet with the President of the European Commission, Ms. Ursula von der Leyen, at the Berlaymont building of the European Commission. There will be no media opportunity.
[M: Assuming the timing, assuming Jens Stoltenberg has learned about the planned sabotage. It is his responsibility to inform the future victim - the EU. Assuming this was the case, who has informed him? The UK through NATO or USA through official channels? Based on my research it was UK and so it makes him potentially complicit in covering up the affair being active participant of the plot - thus he is My suspect.]
25 Sept 2022 - HMS Queen Elizabeth anchors in New York as Truss plans to strengthen UK-US bond
The Royal Navy’s flagship dropped anchor within sight of the Statue of Liberty in New York Harbour on Sunday
26 Sept 2022 - Nordstream pipelines are attacked.
26 Sept 2022 - The USA has communicated with Russia through
Red Line de-escalation Phone
"US national security adviser Jake Sullivan said on Sunday night that the US had “communicated directly, privately to the Russians at very high levels” how it would respond if Vladimir Putin carried out the nuclear strike threat he made during an address last week"
26 Sept 2022 - NSA Jake Sullivan says the "red phone" is working again and the White House can speak with the Kremlin at "senior levels."
"That has happened frequently over the course of the past few months. It has happened even in the last few days."
VI. The Afterwards in the UK and USA domain
28 Sept 2022 - Where is Liz Truss? Our prime minister has gone missing
was a deliberate act of sabotage.
[M: A separate post about who said and framed it as a "sabotage" is here]
The US Navy’s processing of the sonar signatures – the term for the unique underwater sounds – provided by Sweden and Denmark could boost the investigations by providing a more detailed picture of what was in the area at the time of the pipeline explosions and what caused them, sources said...
Each type of underwater machinery like submarines, torpedoes and vessel engines makes a unique sound that is called a “sonar signature,” and the US has an extensive library of these sounds.
17 Oct 2022 - Why wasn't Liz Truss in Parliament? Penny Mourdant denies PM was 'cowering under her desk' as she was missing from urgent question
18 October 2022 - Readout of National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan’s Meeting with United Kingdom Secretary of State for Defence Ben Wallace
National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan met today with Secretary of State for Defence Ben Wallace of the United Kingdom. They exchanged views on shared national security interests, including Ukraine. They underscored their commitment to continue providing Ukraine with security assistance as it defends itself against Russian aggression.
18 October 2022 - President Biden to Announce New Actions to Strength en U.S. Energy Security, Encourage Production, and Bring Down Costs
President Biden is directing his Administration to take additional action to strengthen energy security, address the supply crunch, and lower costs.
First, the Department of Energy (DOE) is issuing a Notice of Sale tomorrow morning for 15 million barrels from the Strategic Petroleum Reserve (SPR) to be delivered in December.
[M: Basically USA is mimicking steps UK has done in preparations to increased energy prices.]
19 Oct 2022 - Special Relationship goes silent
Ben Wallace, the U.K. defense secretary, made a secretive trip to Washington on Tuesday, to discuss with the Biden administration Ukrainian matters that his deputy described as “beyond belief.”
19 October 2022 - Ukraine war: Mysterious defence secretary trip to Washington amid fears of Russian escalation
Defence Secretary Ben Wallace is on a hastily-arranged visit to Washington to talk with his counterpart and White House officials about "shared security concerns" including Ukraine and Russia, a source and an official said.
The secretive, last-minute nature of the trip and a comment by a second defence minister, James Heappey - who said the conversations that Mr Wallace would be having on Tuesday were "beyond belief" - suggested particularly sensitive and serious issues would be discussed.
However, Foreign Secretary James Cleverly this morning sought to play down the significance of the trip.
"He will be visiting his counterpart at the Pentagon and senior figures at the White House."
"My boss, Ben Wallace, is in Washington this morning having the sort of conversations that… beyond belief really the fact we are a time when these sort of conversations are necessary."
The defence secretary had been due to appear before a committee of MPs in London to discuss the UK, US and NATO on Tuesday but had to cancel.
23 October 2022 - Readout of Secretary of Defense Lloyd J. Austin III's Phone Call With U.K. Secretary of State for Defence Ben Wallace
“Secretary of Defense Lloyd J. Austin III called UK Secretary of State for Defence Ben Wallace Oct. 23 to reaffirm the U.S.-UK defense relationship and the importance of transatlantic cooperation. Their conversation today was a continuation of their discussion at the Pentagon last week, which covered a wide range of shared defense and security priorities, including Ukraine.”
VII. About UK special boat services unit
30 Oct 2022 - Russia says UK navy blew up Nord Stream, London denies involvement
The Russian ministry said that “British specialists” from the same unit directed Ukrainian drone attacks on ships of Russian Black Sea fleet in Crimea earlier on Saturday that it said were largely repelled by Russian forces, with minor damage to a Russian minesweeper.
“According to available information, representatives of this unit of the British Navy took part in the planning, provision and implementation of a terrorist attack in the Baltic Sea on September 26 this year – blowing up the Nord Stream 1 and Nord Stream 2 gas pipelines,” the ministry said.
In a British Parliamentary Deference Select Committee on the 2nd November, 2022, the UK Secretary of State for Defence, Ben Wallace, has been challenged for his failure to permit members of the Defence Select Committee access to UK Special Forces.In a heated exchanged, the Committee chair, Tobias Ellwood MP said that the UK Special Forces were not the best in the world ‘about scrutiny’, and that the Special Forces – including units such as the Special Air Service (SAS) and Special Boat Services (SBS) – were “not above scrutiny.”When asked if the Ministry of Defence could facilitate a visit to Hereford, home of the SAS, the Deference Minister said “no” and went on to argue that “this committee does not have oversight of Special Forces and its operations.”The chair of the Defence Committee disagreed, saying: “I’m sorry, we have oversight of the Armed Forces in the UK Defence.”Mr Wallace then said the Special Forces were very busy in operational work....Earlier this year, Action on Armed Violence raised concerns about a lack of parliamentary oversight of the UK’s Special Forces...
NOTE about USA and Nordstream AB and Nordstream 2 AB:
Note that the USA had not issues with Nordstream 1 but sanctions were against Nordstream 2 while the UK was much against both projects - see another post.
Note that USA and Germany had a deal about Nordstream 2 that it will not go online.
26 May 2022 - The secret planning that kept the White House a step ahead of Russia
Germany was a reluctant but essential ally, and the Biden administration made a controversial decision last summer that was probably crucial in gaining German support against Russia. Biden gave Germany a pass on an initial round of sanctions against a company building the Nord Stream 2 pipeline in exchange for a pledge from Chancellor Angela Merkel that if Russia invaded, Nord Stream 2 would be scrapped. When the invasion came, Merkel was gone but her successor, Olaf Scholz, kept the promise.
[M: The deal was kept from both sides - see post about it here. There was no need to blow ALL pipelines anymore. USA had reached its objectives with the "political deal".]
NOTE about USA navy leaving the Baltic Sea before the sabotage happens
24 Sept 2022 - Kearsarge Amphibious Ready Group transits Danish Strait (left through DK straights on 22nd as stated here). For about 7 days helicopters from this ship with Anti Submarine capabilities were searching the area for unidentified reason - post here.
[M: There something happens on 20/09 and US boats exit Baltic Sea - see post about it here.]
US, UK and NATO
7 March 2023 - Special Relationships? US, UK and NATO
This is a House of Commons Committee report, with recommendations to government. The Government has two months to respond.
Sixth Report of Session 2022–23
CONCLUSION/SUMMARY:
It is possible that UK said to USA about their irreversible plan to attack Nordstream or that the USA has learned about it?
PREDICTIONS:
The USA x UK relationships to worsen in time, certain distance in diplomacy in case the Nordstream case blow up in diplomatic face.
The NATO and Trans-Atlantic alliance will experience "issues" in coordination and next US president may want to withdraw from NATO talks.
UPDATES:
2 April 2023 - Joe Biden 'Not Expected' to Attend King Charles' Coronation, Plans Are 'Not Locked and Loaded'
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