Story perspectives

Turner Says Israel, Not UK, Holds US “Special Relationship”

4/29/2026

Summary

Story summary

Sir Christian Turner told that Israel, not UK, holds US’s sole “special relationship,” calling the term nostalgic and saying the UK-US defence bond remains strong.
February remarks were leaked to the Financial Times, with Foreign Office saying they are not official policy.
He said the Epstein scandal harmed Prince Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor, Lord Peter Mandelson, but not anyone in United States when King Charles III began a visit to the United States.

History

Historical Context

During World II Britain and the United States integrated their militaries, and after the war Winston Churchill used the phrase “special relationship” in his 5 March 1946 Congress speech, cementing Anglo-American ties. Churchill and Franklin Roosevelt exchanged about 1,700 letters and met eleven times, creating a model of defence cooperation that today underpins Sir Christian Turner’s claim that Israel now fills a similar role.

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Story summary

Sir Christian Turner told that Israel, not UK, holds US’s sole “special relationship,” calling the term nostalgic and saying the UK-US defence bond remains strong.
February remarks were leaked to the Financial Times, with Foreign Office saying they are not official policy.
He said the Epstein scandal harmed Prince Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor, Lord Peter Mandelson, but not anyone in United States when King Charles III began a visit to the United States.

1 / 2