Only "special relationship" U.S. has is "probably Israel," U.K. ambassador said
The UK's ambassador to the U.S., Sir Christian Turner, said in a February speech to British students that Israel, not the UK, likely has the only "special relationship" with the United States, calling the traditional term for UK-U.S. ties "nostalgic" and "backwards-looking." His comments, leaked by the Financial Times, come amid a royal visit aimed at strengthening strained transatlantic relations. The UK government stated the remarks were private and do not reflect official policy. Turner also expressed surprise at the differing fallout in the UK and U.S. from the Jeffrey Epstein scandal.
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World U.K. ambassador, in leaked remarks, said the "one country" with a "special relationship" with the U.S. is "probably Israel" By Frank Andrews Frank Andrews Journalist Frank Andrews is a CBS News journalist based in London. Read Full Bio Frank Andrews April 28, 2026 / 4:46 PM EDT / CBS News Add CBS News on Google Britain's Ambassador to the U.S., Sir Christian Turner, said in February, before the U.S. and Israel launched their joint war with Iran, that to him it seemed the "only country" to have a "special relationship" with the United States was "probably Israel." Turner made the remarks to a group of British high-school age students visiting the U.S.
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