As King Charles III of the United Kingdom is on a state visit to the United States, it emerged belatedly that the British ambassador to the United States said the only country that has a "special relationship" with the United States is not the United Kingdom but Israel.
According to CNN on the 29th (local time), Christian Turner, the British ambassador to the United States, said at a meeting in February with British students visiting the United States, "There is probably one country that has a special relationship with the United States, and that is probably Israel."
Turner's remarks, first reported by the British media on the 28th, appear to throw cold water on efforts since the 27th to highlight King Charles III's "special relationship" with the United States.
Turner also suggested that, unlike in the United Kingdom, the Jeffrey Epstein (deceased) scandal, involving a sex offender who targeted minors, did not become an issue in the United States. The comments appear aimed at U.S. President Donald Trump, who once had ties with Epstein, and U.S. Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick.
A U.K. Foreign Office Spokesperson called Turner's comments "private and informal" and said they "do not reflect the position of the U.K. government."