British Ambassador to the United States Christian Turner stated that only Israel has a 'special relationship' with the U.S. He made the remark in February while speaking to a group of students about transatlantic relations. The comment was first reported by the Financial Times on Tuesday, just before King Charles III arrived at the White House for a state visit, at a time of heightened tensions over the Iran war. The UK Foreign Office clarified that Turner’s remarks were personal and informal, not reflective of the government’s official stance.

An audio recording of Turner’s meeting with sixth-form students in the U.S. revealed him saying that the phrase 'special relationship' feels nostalgic and outdated. He added that while the U.K. and U.S. share deep historical and security ties, the nature of their relationship is evolving. Turner noted that Europe cannot rely solely on the U.S. security umbrella and that the partnership must adapt to changing times.

Turner, a career diplomat, was appointed British ambassador to the U.S. in December of the previous year.