What is the UK-US ‘Special Relationship’?

The ‘special relationship’ is a term used to refer to the close political, cultural and historic ties between UK and the USA. The phrase was popularised by Winston Churchill in a speech in 1946 at Westminster College, Missouri, and has been widely used in statements and analysis ever since.

UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson reportedly prefers not to use the phrase because he sees it as “needy and weak”.