Opinion | Amid worsening China ties, can Britain’s ‘special relationship’ with the US flourish?

As Joe Biden visits UK, he and Boris Johnson will discuss global challenges, including China, Russia and bilateral issues like trade and pandemic travel limits

A trade deal would be a significant victory for Johnson’s ‘Global Britain’ agenda at a time when Britain’s relationship with China has eroded

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British Prime Minister Boris Johnson is expected to push hard for a trade deal with the United States when US President Joe Biden visits the country. Photo: AP

Published: 1:30am, 10 Jun 2021Updated: 3:41am, 10 Jun 2021

British Prime Minister Boris Johnson will on Thursday become only the third foreign leader to meet face-to-face with Joe Biden since the latter assumed the US presidency.

On a pivotal first foreign trip with significant risk and opportunity, Biden is not only meeting arch-rival Vladimir Putin and erstwhile ally Recep Tayyip Erdogan, but also friends from Europe, Canada and the Asia-Pacific at the G7, Nato and EU summits. However, the first order of business is meeting Johnson, and Queen Elizabeth on Sunday, to renew what Biden called the “special relationship”.

While Biden is proud of his Irish ancestry, he has long been a defender of British interests. He was, for instance, a staunch supporter of London over the Falklands War.

Although Johnson does not like the term “special relationship”, given his view that it implies British neediness and subservience, he must be pleased that Biden has, rhetorically at least, put significant emphasis on bilateral ties and that Britain is his first foreign destination.

Johnson will also be relieved that early personal tensions (Biden once called Johnson a “physical and emotional clone” of Donald Trump) appear to have dissipated.

The two leaders will discuss global challenges, including China and Russia, as well as bilateral issues like a trade deal and pandemic restrictions on travel.