Uploaded December 2025 | Updated September 2026, 2 weeks ago
This video tackles two questions submitted by viewers, each addressing a different aspect of Britain’s relationship with the United States. The first asks whether the US-UK “special relationship” is actually real, or whether it has always been more slogan than substance. The idea was especially prominent during the Blair–Bush years, when Britain closely aligned itself with Washington on Iraq and the wider War on Terror. But was there ever anything genuinely special about the relationship, or has it mainly served as a convenient phrase used by successive British governments to justify closeness to the United States rather than deeper engagement with Europe?
The second question looks at how influence works inside Washington itself. Israel has AIPAC, one of the most powerful lobbying organisations in the US political system, widely seen as shaping American foreign policy in Israel’s favour. So would it make sense for Britain to try something similar? Could a hypothetical “BritPAC” be created to push US policy towards British interests, and would such an approach actually work? By addressing these two questions separately, the video explores the reality of British influence in Washington, the limits of lobbying, and what this tells us about the true nature of the US-UK relationship today.
*VIDEO CHAPTERS*
00:00 Introduction and Titles
00:09 Is the Special Relationship Real?
12:54 Should Britain Set Up a Lobbying Group in the US?
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Secession and State Creation: What Everyone Needs to Know
Oxford University Press global.oup.com/academic/product/secession-and-state-creation-9780190494049
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Some of the links above are affiliate links. These pay a small commission if you make a purchase. This helps to support the channel at no additional cost to you.
#Britain #UnitedStates #SpecialRelationship
This video tackles two questions submitted by viewers, each addressing a different aspect of Britain’s relationship with the United States. The first asks whether the US-UK “special relationship” is actually real, or whether it has always been more slogan than substance. The idea was especially prominent during the Blair–Bush years, when Britain closely aligned itself with Washington on Iraq and the wider War on Terror. But was there ever anything genuinely special about the relationship, or has it mainly served as a convenient phrase used by successive British governments to justify closeness to the United States rather than deeper engagement with Europe?
The second question looks at how influence works inside Washington itself. Israel has AIPAC, one of the most powerful lobbying organisations in the US political system, widely seen as shaping American foreign policy in Israel’s favour. So would it make sense for Britain to try something similar? Could a hypothetical “BritPAC” be created to push US policy towards British interests, and would such an approach actually work? By addressing these two questions separately, the video explores the reality of British influence in Washington, the limits of lobbying, and what this tells us about the true nature of the US-UK relationship today.
*VIDEO CHAPTERS*
00:00 Introduction and Titles
00:09 Is the Special Relationship Real?
12:54 Should Britain Set Up a Lobbying Group in the US?
*SUPPORT INDEPENDENT ANALYSIS*
If you enjoy the channel and would like to support independent analysis of international relations, conflict, and security, there are several ways you can help:
SUBSCRIBE FOR FREE
youtube.com/channel/UCEszqJb1FjYisBevHBIof3g
youtube.com/c/JamesKerLindsay?sub_confirmation=1
JOIN THE COMMUNITY AND BECOME A CHANNEL MEMBER
YouTube: youtube.com/c/JamesKerLindsay/join
Patreon: patreon.com/JamesKerLindsay
*MY LATEST BOOK!*
Secession and State Creation: What Everyone Needs to Know
Oxford University Press global.oup.com/academic/product/secession-and-state-creation-9780190494049
Amazon amzn.to/2MPY3W2
Some of the links above are affiliate links. These pay a small commission if you make a purchase. This helps to support the channel at no additional cost to you.
#Britain #UnitedStates #SpecialRelationship
