Former NATO chief says Britain’s US military dependence is unsustainable

On Wednesday, former NATO secretary‑general George Robertson publicly warned that the United Kingdom’s long‑standing military dependence on the United States has become unsustainable, urging a swift move toward greater strategic autonomy. His assessment arrives less than a week after he condemned British officials for a 'corrosive complacency' in defence planning, framing the critique as a symptom of a broader disconnect between Westminster’s rhetoric and the evolving reality of transatlantic relations.

Robertson further observed that the diplomatic tone emanating from the White House has sunk to a 'historic low', implying that even ordinary exchanges between senior officials now convey a level of mutual suspicion previously confined to Cold War briefings. According to his commentary, the United Kingdom and the United States are already diverging on core values, a drift that he believes will persist irrespective of the imminent departure of President Donald Trump from the Oval Office.

By insisting that Britain must develop an increasingly independent defence posture, Robertson implicitly challenges the underlying assumptions of the post‑World War II 'special relationship', suggesting that the historical bargain of mutual security is no longer sufficient to guarantee British strategic interests in a world where policy alignment is becoming optional rather than obligatory. The call for autonomy arrives at a moment when the United Kingdom’s defence procurement processes are already under scrutiny for chronic delays, budget overruns, and an evident reliance on American technology, a combination that Robertson seems to view as evidence of a systemic inability to chart an indigenous defence roadmap without external patronage.

In effect, Robertson’s remarks lay bare the paradox of a nation that publicly celebrates sovereignty while allowing its defence policy to be dictated by the whims of a distant ally whose own diplomatic tone has descended into near‑contempt, thereby exposing a governance gap that future British ministers will find increasingly difficult to ignore.

Published: April 22, 2026