Description
The special relationship between the UK and the US has its roots in the 19th century and was solidified during the 20th century. One of the arguments for Brexit was grounded on the possibility of a closer relationship with the US, specifically regarding trade. The UK’s departure from the EU was based not only on gaining independence as political power but also on the ambition of being an agenda-setting power, looking into the US role in the world.
We explore the importance of the transatlantic bridge on Brexit and answer the question of how the special relationship has shaped British foreign policy. Building on the literature on ideas on foreign policy, this research contributes to fulfilling the gap concerning how ideas emerge and arrive at the British political environment, influencing the foreign policy strategy delineation. The focus is to consider the ideational phase of the foreign policy adjustment process.
The paper intends to trace the influences on the Global Britain strategy by analysing the foreign policy traditions, values, and identities. The period between 1987 and 2022 is examined, developing a comparative content analysis of both countries’ national security strategies and foreign policy documents. We claim that Brexit acted as an essential factor for the debate intensification concerning bilateral relations and that the US foreign security policy traditions had a particular influence in shaping ideas and strategy delineation of the British foreign policy after Brexit.
