The
so-called "special relationship" between US and British
capitalism seems at times to resemble, for those who are old enough
to remember, the portrayal by the 1980s spitting image show of the
relationship between David Steel and David Owen. The former would
fawn over the latter, who would in return deliver a withering put
down.
During
the Northern Irish "peace process" in the 1990s, John
Major's government had to grin and bear it when President Bill
Clinton courted Sinn Fein. When Tony Blair was prime minister, he
backed President George Bush in the invasion of Iraq and accorded him
a state visit. He didn't receive much in return other than a "Yo
Blair" greeting at a 2006 G8 Summit. Shortly after he assumed
the Presidency, Barack Obama, returned the bust of Winston Churchill
from the White House.
Not
long after Donald Trump was inaugurated as President, Theresa May
wasted no time in visiting him in Washington in January 2017. Despite
the controversial nature of his presidency, May invited him to a
state visit. His scheduled visit to the UK on 13 July will be a
working visit and the Big Man will meet the Queen. There promises to
be large demonstrations against him when he arrives.
In
the meantime, in November 2017, Theresa May earned a rebuke from
President Trump when she criticised him for retweeting anti-Muslim
videos by the far-right Britain First Group. In May, Trump ignored
Boris Johnson's pleading and pulled out of the nuclear deal with
Iran. Early in June Trump slapped tariffs on steel and aluminium
imports from the EU, which also apply to the UK. Then there are the
distressing scenes from the Texas border with Mexico where migrant
children have been forcibly separated from their parents. In spite of
all this, Theresa May will welcome Donald Trump on 13 July. As if to
further ingratiate herself with Trump, May supported the US bombing
of Syria in April.
This
apparent toadying attitude originated after the Second War when the
US emerged as a dominant global power and the British Empire was in
decline. The British capitalist class, by and large, believed they
could retain most of their former global influence by allying
themselves to the United States, and it was hoped that this would
give them advantageous access to world markets. They also exploited
their links to Europe, enticing US banks and corporations to base
their European operations in the UK. However, as the UK is leaving
the EU, there is the urgent need for a trade deal. No doubt this is
one of the major reasons for the 13 July visit.
Theresa
May's strategy of staying close to Donald Trump has not been entirely
successful, for the latter has struck up a friendly relationship with
the French President, Emmanuel Macron, who seeks to position French
capitalism as the new link to Europe for US businesses, thus
encouraging them to relocate from Britain to France.
This
forthcoming visit could not illustrate more clearly the cynicism of
Capitalism. Capitalist leaders are compelled by the cutthroat nature
of competing world markets to make alliances with regimes, however
odious, if their economic interests demand it.
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