In the aftermath of chaotic withdrawal from Afghanistan, US and UK officials are fighting over each other.
Boris Johnson called Biden three times, but Biden did not answer. Johnson, however, has revived the nickname "Sleepy Joe", according to reports.
A former minister stated that the two countries would be able to survive this damage but need to be cautious.
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An angry war of words erupted between the US and UK over chaotic troop withdrawal from Taliban-controlled Afghanistan. A British cabinet minister called President Joe Biden "doolally", while the US president ignored the prime minister's demands.
This exposes serious flaws in the "special relationship" between the two countries at a moment when international cooperation is crucial given the increasing threats posed by China and radical Islam.
Perhaps "briefing wars", in which officials make snipes at one another via comments to the media, often anonymously, between Washington and London, were inevitable after the chaos in Afghanistan following the April announcement by Biden that he would withdraw all US troops.
Boris Johnson's government initially supported the decision. However, there was fury in Westminster towards Biden after chaotic scenes in Kabul where both countries had to evacuate their nationals and their allies following the Taliban's lightning fast takeover.
London was angered again after Biden ignored UK pleas to extend the deadline for evacuation from Kabul airport. Many people that the UK had planned to evacuate were not evacuated.
Unnamed British cabinet minister called Biden "doolally", and "gaga", in comments to The Mail last Sunday. These comments made their way to The White House after they were reprinted by The Washington Post.
According to The Sunday Times Johnson used to refer to Biden by the name of "Sleepy Joe", a reference to former President Donald Trump's nickname. Johnson sees Biden "lightweight" and "inward-looking,"
Johnson and Biden at 2021 G7 summit, England. Getty
Washington has retaliated. According to Pentagon sources, the US had been urged by UK officials to open Kabul's airport gate. This allegation drew furious denision from Dominic Raab, UK Foreign Secretary.
The Telegraph reported that Johnson called Biden to discuss Kabul, but he was also ignored by Biden for three days.
Biden is well-known for his ability to hold grudges and has shown wariness towards Johnson since last year, when he called Johnson a "mini Trump". After the briefing wars, reports of Biden's grudges surfaced again this week.
Transatlantic relations appear to be at a low point, and Biden appears to have weakened US standing within NATO.
Lord Robertson was Secretary General of NATO in 2001 when NATO's member forces entered Afghanistan. He described the withdrawal at a Thursday Policy Exchange event in London as "hasty, crassly managed surrender to the very people we fought and defeated twenty years ago."
He said that NATO and the West, however we may think it, were weaker, that extraordinary solidarity of 20 years ago was damaged, and the powerful United States of America had been humiliated."
The evacuation of eligible personnel from Kabul airport in Afghanistan by members of the UK Armed Forces took place in August 2021. LPhot Ben Shread/UK MOD Crown Copyright 2021/Handout via REUTERS
There are strong reasons to believe the transatlantic relationship can survive.
It is clear that the UK government prefers to work with Biden and his commitment towards multilateral institutions such as NATO and the UN than with Trump, despite Johnson saying offhand last week that Trump would be better for them.
The transatlantic relationship has seen many lows and often has shown an ability to survive antipathy from its leaders.
Alistair Burt, an ex-UK Foreign Office minister for South Asia that includes Afghanistan, stated that he has always believed that the strength of the relationship between the US & UK is so strong that individual can't alter it.
"It's just too strong to be affected individually and it's far too strong for someone like this to have affected it."
However, if the briefing conflict doesn't stop soon, the damage over the next years could be more severe.
Burt stated, "The public briefing warfare has to be ended as soon as possible."
There is no benefit to causing a wider rift between the UK and the US in this area. It can only please both the enemies and allies of each.
These "enemies" include ISIS-K, Russia, and China. Their geostrategic positions can only be strengthened by division between NATO powers.
Burt stated, "Understandably, in the heat of these circumstances and the misery at Kabul," that sharp comments are to be expected."
"But now that that is over, everyone must recognize that the US-UK relationship on intelligence, defense, security and other matters will continue to be as close as possible."
