Donald Trump has destroyed the 'special relationship' - it's time for a new western alliance

In relationships, the line between comfort and complacency is a fine one, easily crossed.

There you are, rubbing along quite happily, and then someone starts taking things for granted. What was once strong grows fragile. Trust breaks down. The damage deepens.

This is true of relationships both personal and professional. And it also, as recent events remind us, applies to alliances between nations.

For decades, the “special relationship” between the UK and the USA seemed unbreakable.

Throughout the cold war, cooperation between our nations was essential to global security. And the knowledge that – in times of danger – each would defend the other was reassuring.

Things have, of course, taken quite the turn.

Donald Trump has trashed a relationship long taken for granted by the UK and it will not easily be mended.

The US president’s aggressive rhetoric over the matter of whether Greenland should become the 51st State was bad enough. His threats of annexation made clear his contempt for the Nato alliance which has played such a significant role in maintaining global security since the end of the Second World War.

But it was his barely-coherent speech at the World Economic Forum in the Swiss Alpine resort Davos on Wednesday, in which he was gratuitously insulting to allies, that left no room for doubt over the danger he poses to global security.

Trump rambled for more than an hour, lashing out at fellow leaders like the cheap bully he is.

Referring to an earlier speech by Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney, who had called out “great powers” for weaponising their economic strength, Trump said: “Canada lives because of the United States. Remember that, Mark, the next time you make your statements.”

Of course, allowances are regularly made for Trump’s erratic behaviour. His bluff and bluster are indulged, his ego frequently assuaged by world leaders who take the position that “Donald will be Donald”.

Clearly, Trump’s behaviour can no longer be excused or eye-rolled away.

In an interview on Thursday, the President rubbished the sacrifices made by the USA’s Nato allies during action in Afghanistan.

Having answered America’s call to arms, soldiers from around the world fought and died alongside their US counterparts.

But, according to Trump, those servicemen and women were surplus to American requirements.

On Nato, he said: “We’ve never needed them. We have never really asked anything of them.

“They’ll say they sent some troops to Afghanistan… and they did, they stayed a little back, a little off the front lines.”

Trump added that he was “not sure” Nato troops would be there for the US “if we ever needed them”.

Listening to a draft-dodger traduce the heroism of those who lost their lives in combat with the Taliban was an infuriating experience.

But it was, I think, a necessary one. Matters are now clear.

The “special relationship” no longer exists. We cannot depend upon the USA to stand with long-term allies. Trust is gone.

Trump’s dismissal of the actions of Nato forces flies in the face of decency. It is also, of course, based on a lie.

In fact, 1,160 non-American coalition soldiers lost their lives in Afghanistan. Among those who died fighting alongside US forces were 457 British troops.

Many thousands more members of allied armed forces were wounded, some of them in life-changing ways.

Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer was correct when he described Trump’s remarks as “insulting and frankly appalling”.

It was, however, an intervention from Prince Harry that struck home hardest. His words bear repeating at length.

The Duke of Sussex – twice deployed to Afghanistan during his 10-year army career – said: “I served there. I made lifelong friends there. And I lost friends there.

“In 2001, Nato invoked Article 5 for the first – and only – time in history. It meant that every allied nation was obliged to stand with the United States in Afghanistan, in pursuit of our shared security. Allies answered that call.

“Thousands of lives were changed forever. Mothers and fathers buried sons and daughters. Children were left without a parent. Families are left carrying the cost.

“Those sacrifices deserve to be spoken about truthfully and with respect, as we all remain united and loyal to the defence of diplomacy and peace.”

Even Reform UK’s Nigel Farage, a great admirer of Trump, felt compelled to speak out, saying that the President was “wrong”.

There has, of course, been no apology from Trump. A statement issued yesterday in which he hailed the bravery of British soldiers doesn’t count. That was a cynical act from a bully who realised he’d gone too far. His words of praise were worthless.

There remains among the political class some hope that the Trump presidency is a blip, that normal service – and normal relations – will resume once his term in office comes to a end in three years.

This complacency will not do. Our leaders must not assume that the old order will return, post-Trump.

The outrage we may feel about his cruelty and stupidity is not shared by the people who put him in the White House. To the MAGA faithful, Trump is simply speaking hard truths. Millions of Americans are perfectly happy to hear their president demean the sacrifices made by allied forces.

Donald Trump’s chaotic presidency is a gift to Russian President Vladimir Putin whose dream of a weakening Nato is playing out in front of his eyes.

This being so, there can be no “wait and see”, no making allowances for an unhinged and dangerous American president.

Western allies can no longer rely on the USA for solidarity and loyalty. A venal president and his shamefully supine enablers have not simply weakened trust between nations that once stood shoulder-to-shoulder. He has destroyed it.

It’s time, now, for the UK government to invest more in defence and to try – in these divided times – to assert real influence in a new western alliance without the USA.

There must be no complacency in building new special relationships with allies we can trust.