The "Special Relationship" is dead, buried, and being danced upon by a chaotic White House. As London clings to old alliances, a terrifying realization is dawning on the British establishment: the threat isn't Moscow; it’s Washington.

For decades, the British security apparatus has been like a compass stuck pointing East. Russia was the boogeyman, the eternal villain in the geopolitical script. But as Andy Beckett astutely argues in The Guardian, the winds have changed. With Donald Trump’s erratic and often hostile presidency tearing up the rulebook in 2026, the United Kingdom finds itself in a nightmare scenario: its "big brother" across the Atlantic has turned into a bully.

The Greenland Crisis and Beyond

The cracks are no longer hairline fractures; they are gaping chasms. The recent diplomatic spat over Greenland—a crisis that seemed farcical at first but quickly turned menacing—exemplifies the new reality. Trump’s administration treats allies not as partners, but as vassals. For Kenyans, this dynamic is painfully familiar. We know what it looks like when a superpower decides your sovereignty is merely a suggestion. Britain is now tasting the bitter pill of neocolonialism, served by its closest friend.

• Trade Wars: The disputes over tariffs and tech regulation are hitting the UK economy where it hurts. The pound is jittery, and the City of London is looking nervously at Wall Street.
• Cultural Clash: From disputes over free speech to the policing of diverse cities like London, the US administration is exporting its culture wars to British soil. It is an ideological invasion.
• Defense Dilemma: Britain hosts 13 US Air Force bases. Its nuclear deterrent is maintained by the US. If Washington is no longer a reliable ally, Britain is not just isolated; it is defenseless.

A Kenyan Perspective on Western Chaos

Watching this from Nairobi, there is a profound irony. For years, Western powers lectured Africa on stability and governance. Now, the "Mother of Parliaments" in Westminster is paralyzed by fear of the White House. The Opinium poll revealing that 32% of Britons now view the US as a threat is a staggering statistic. It suggests the British public is waking up faster than its leaders.

Bronwen Maddox of Chatham House calls it "the end of the western alliance." This is not hyperbole. If Britain has to defend itself against the US in trade and security, the geopolitical map of the 20th century is obsolete. We are entering a multipolar world where old loyalties are liabilities. Britain must learn the lesson Kenya learned long ago: in international relations, there are no permanent friends, only permanent interests. And right now, America is not in Britain’s interest.