When determining strategy, UK and US policymakers have long considered the security of our two nations to be guided by the so-called ‘special relationship’. Consequently, UK policymakers were clearly concerned when the Obama administration announced its so-called ‘pivot’ to the Asia-Pacific region. It clearly raises two very important questions. First, why would the US consider a ‘pivot’ or greater emphasis on Asia in its security posture? Second, what are the implications for the British-US special security relationship?

Jeffrey McCausland is a visiting professor of International Security Studies at Dickinson College.

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McCausland, Jeffrey. A Pivotal Issue. The British Army 2014 (2014): 26-28.