Lords committee launches call for evidence for inquiry examining the relationship between the UK and the US

The UK and US have shared a strong and enduring partnership rooted in diplomatic, military, and intelligence cooperation for over a century. Yet, shifting political dynamics and broader US policy trends raise crucial questions about how this relationship might evolve, demanding strategic foresight from the UK Government.

This inquiry will seek to identify new opportunities for collaboration, address potential sources of tension, and explore how the UK can shape its relationship with the US to safeguard UK interests in the years ahead.

Read the full call for evidence and find out how to make a submission. The deadline for the submission of written evidence is 5:00pm on 14 March 2025.

Lord de Mauley, who chairs the International Relations and Defence Committee said:

“The US has been the UK’s principal ally for over a century, and the relationship has weathered international crises, diverging interests and political shifts on both sides of the Atlantic. However, we must not take this ‘special relationship’ for granted.

“Our new inquiry will assess the current state of the transatlantic relationship, explore short and long-term trends in US and UK policy, and identify opportunities for co-operation and potential friction points.

“We will make evidence-based recommendations to the UK Government to ensure that, in the years to come, our relationship with the US continues to flourish and develops to the benefit of both our nations.”  

The Committee is seeking evidence on a range of questions including:

• What are the benefits and challenges of a close UK-US relationship and how, if at all, does the UK-US relationship differ from relationships the UK and the US have with other Western allies?
  
  
• How will a second Trump term affect the US’ perception of the UK as an important ally? 
  
  
• How will US market access, broader trade policy and/or regulatory practices likely evolve under President Trump and beyond? How would these impact the UK? What are the most viable and effective options for the UK to co-operate with the US in the economic sphere?
  
  
• What are the likely priority areas for US foreign policy in the long term, and what future friction points (e.g. China) do you foresee? How should the UK respond? 
  
  
• How would you assess the UK-US defence and intelligence-sharing relationship, including strengths, weaknesses and areas where the UK may be currently overly dependent on the US?
  
  
• What is your assessment of the likely future US attitude to continued co-operation with the UK over nuclear weapons and technology, including AI? 

For the full list of questions on which the Committee is seeking written evidence, please refer to the call for evidence.