Biden Would Do Well to Remember That the U.K. Is Our Closest Ally

British policies on China, Russia, and other issues are closely aligned with U.S. interests.

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Presidential transition periods in the United States are rarely a relaxing time for British prime ministers. The leader of the country that prides itself on its special relationship with the United States is prone to fret about just how special things will be with the new White House occupant. But even by these high standards, the transition from Donald Trump to Joe Biden has been uniquely fraught from a British point of view. U.K. ministers will be pleased to see Trump depart, but they are far from certain about what comes next. 

Adding to the stress levels in London are Brexit—a close economic and political relationship with the United States is central to the role the U.K. sees for itself outside of the EU—and the many disobliging comments about Boris Johnson that have emerged from Joe Biden’s circle in recent years. 

In private remarks in 2019, Biden is reported to have called Johnson the “physical and emotional clone” of Donald Trump. Secretary of State Antony nominee Blinken has called Brexit “a total mess.” If Britain came up on the campaign trail in 2020, it was generally because Biden was scolding the Johnson government for contemplating a Brexit option that might have jeopardized the Good Friday Agreement. 

Tommy Vietor, a former Obama White House official and co-host of the Pod Save the World podcast said publicly what a lot of Democrats think privately when he wrote of Johnson’s congratulatory message to Biden, “This shapeshifting creep weighs in. We will never forget your racist comments about Obama and slavish devotion to Trump but neat Instagram graphic.” (The comments referenced by Vietor were made by Johnson in 2016, when he accused the “part-Kenyan president” of having an “ancestral dislike of the British empire.”)

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  1. dlnevins

    I'd actually argue that Canada is our closest and most important ally, but I suppose that's nitpicking. Our close relationship with Great Britain matters a lot, to both countries.

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    1. Richard Greydanus

      This is correct. There is a reason the first phone call Biden made to a foreign leader was to the Canadian Prime Minister, not the British Prime Minister.

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  2. Pogo

    I think this is correct. Johnson has certainly said some boorish things, and I think Brexit was a very bad move, but I think he's someone reasonably smart with whom Biden can work. I was reasonably impressed by the recent white paper on climate change by the Johnson administration, and think that the D-10 summit is a great idea to work together on. I also think the historical relationship of Britain with HK and their concomitant willingness to stand up for the rights of HKers will provide a good grounds for strong bilateral advocacy.

    However, I think he needs to be careful not to get so close to Britain and prioritize them over the EU as to worsen ties with the EU. I think this piece is too grim on working multilaterally with the EU. Certainly, they've taken some not-so-promising steps with China and Russia. However, I think that by the time the EU-China deal actually goes before the EU MPs it'll end up significantly altered. IIRC, several of the governments (France) have already been pushing on some of their provisions. They've established a working group on human rights abuses which might motivate more movement against China as well. Also, it seems like Merkel finally leaving the German stage is going to possibly allow France more room to maneuver, and they seem more willing to confront China than Germany has been. Furthermore, if the CDU ends up forming a government with the Greens, they might be willing to push on China harder as well-- especially if pushed on by the Biden admin.

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    Christopher Clements

    Biden would do well to remember where he is at any given moment... What's the over under that he lasts a year... Maybe two?

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      Adam Bridge

      Are you suggesting he might be somehow removed from office or that he might die? Either are snarky enough for the Trumpster to have said. In case you're wondering that's the opposite of high praise.

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        Christopher Clements

        I'm suggesting that he won't make it through the midterms and you can extrapolate any number of scenarios where that comes to pass. Senility and mental accumen are too acute for words...

        Also, your hypocrisy knows no bounds... Also not praiseworthy towards leftist like you who populate these boards.

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    Nick H

    Comparing Johnson to Trump is a sure sign of intellectual laziness. There are some superficial similarities in manner and the type of voters each has courted, but they could not be more different in very critical ways.

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    1. Nickson

      Agreed. Johnson, although also an odious toad, is different than Trump in that he has an Oxbridge education and the intellectual capacity that often accompanies that.

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        Phil H

        Absolutely true (other than the "odious toad" bit).. Boris Johnson once did an interview where he quoted for five minutes from the Illiad -- in the original Homeric Greek.

        Comparisons between Trump and Johnson start and end with them both being populists and both having unruly hair. Otherwise they are completely different.

        As for Johnson saying Obama had "an ancestral dislike of the British Empire" that is true and was observed during his Presidency. Obama apparently objected to how the colonial British treated his father.

        Biden needs to repair the "special relationship". Brexit presents a great opportunity to do so, and gain a great trading partner.

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        1. Nickson

          Yeah, he’s a bright guy, even if he tends to bloviate and pontificate quite a lot from what I’ve seen during Prime Minister’s Questions and during interviews. I think it’s because he tries too hard, which is very unlike Trump.

          Obama was overstepping his bounds by intervening in the UK’s internal affairs, so the “ancestral dislike” comment, while impolitic, is understandable in context. Meh. Also, I think Boris was in a Trumpier phase at the time, and was playing to his MUKGA “base” of Leavers in an effort to improve his political standing.

          I agree—a trade deal would be good for both sides, and would improve both Biden’s and Boris’ political stock. Hopefully the issue will be taken up soon, although I think Biden in particular has far more pressing matters to deal with right about now.

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            Phil H

            Thanks for reinforcing my point. "Tries too hard" is a phrase that has nothing whatsoever to do with Donald Trump.

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        Matt Price

        Johnson seems to me to *actually* be the sort of leader many mistakenly thought Trump was - a sly political player who affects a clownish persona to throw off his opponents. With Trump the clownish nonsense isn't a mask, it's just who he is. With Boris, I think there's some evidence he is playing, if not 5D chess, at least ordinary chess (rather than Trump's hungry hungry hippos).

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        1. Nickson

          Well, at least Johnson understands what chess is.

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    John D. Wright

    I kind of think Boris Johnson is who the apologists for Trump think Trump is like. The reality is different. While Johnson is "rough around the edges" perhaps, he is no Trump. I supported Brexit and I don't think Johnson is terrible. I can't say the same about Trump.

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  6. Joe1776

    Best case: Biden's pushing the world in the wrong direction on absolutely every foreign policy will be too slow to do much damage.

    Worst case: "The big guy" sold Hong Kong to the Chinese for 5 million dollars. I hope China doesn't make an aggressive military move in Hong Kong but if they do I don't trust Biden to do anything about it.

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      Narwhal

      You do know that the PRC used our being distracted by Trump’s bs claims of the election being stolen and the Capitol riot to arrest dozens of pro-democracy Hong Kongers, rights?

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      tallcupofcoffee

      Awful. Simply awful.

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    Kevin Johnson

    Well said. We simply have more interests in common with the UK than with most other countries. Not a unanimity of interests, mind you, but many common ones. Among the many sins of our departed idiot-in-chief was exaggerated personalization of everything, and he is not alone in this. Let’s hope Our new POTUS’ desire for normalcy and cooperation with natural allies overcomes staff desires for revenge against Boris and the left’s belief that the West is the source of most evil.

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    Bill Nelson

    I am a committed Anglophile. But the British are like us and we are like the British in establishing policy that is best for us first. Read British history on free trade and how contentious it was when factoring in Commonwealth nations and colonies, then different priorities for different European nations (the Brits still ain’t fond of the frogs).

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      Narwhal

      I’m also a bit of an Anglophile.

      If they are under threat of invasion we show up promptly, with or without NATO requiring us to do so.

      Otherwise, see my comment below yours.

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    Narwhal

    From President Washington’s Farewell Address,

    “Against the insidious wiles of foreign influence (I conjure you to believe me, fellow-citizens) the jealousy of a free people ought to be constantly awake, since history and experience prove that foreign influence is one of the most baneful foes of republican government. But that jealousy to be useful must be impartial; else it becomes the instrument of the very influence to be avoided, instead of a defense against it. Excessive partiality for one foreign nation and excessive dislike of another cause those whom they actuate to see danger only on one side, and serve to veil and even second the arts of influence on the other. Real patriots who may resist the intrigues of the favorite are liable to become suspected and odious, while its tools and dupes usurp the applause and confidence of the people, to surrender their interests.”

    Worth a watch if you’ve never seen this:
    https://www.pbs.org/wgbh/frontline/film/blackmoney/

    “Under a plea bargain with the US Department of Justice BAE was sentenced in March 2010 by U.S. District Court Judge John D. Bates to pay a $400 million fine, one of the largest fines in the history of the DOJ. U.S. District Judge John Bates said the company's conduct involved "deception, duplicity and knowing violations of law, I think it's fair to say, on an enormous scale".”

    https://www.independent.co.uk/news/business/news/bae-protesters-win-sfo-injunction-1914892.html

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      Bill Nelson

      Understand Washington’s statement is the context of the times in which it was made. Jefferson led a strongly pro-French faction which battered/slandered both Washington and Adams as pro-British, even loyalist.
      Also many companies take a plea deal because it is cheaper, not because they are guilty. When the federal government comes after you, it’s not a fair fight: they set the rules and have unlimited money.

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        Narwhal

        I know which founding fathers I value for their judgement more than others.

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          Bill Nelson

          Some founders (and who is a founder varies by beholder) demonstrated varying levels of judgement. Thomas Paine as an example, or Franklin. On some things Jefferson was spectacularly bad, and even Adams was quirky. Washington was solid but did have his critics, such as Jefferson.
          Note: it is unknown if Washington ever really laughed. He enjoyed dancing, theatre and gambling, but carefully kept his emotions in check.

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            Narwhal

            Thomas Paine was not a founding father. He never held public office in the US or signed the Declaration of Independence. Two of the minimum requirements.

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        Narwhal

        “U.S. District Judge John Bates said the company's conduct involved "deception, duplicity and knowing violations of law, I think it's fair to say, on an enormous scale".”

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