The Anglo-American Relationship During The Two Gulf Wars

Anglo-American relationship during the two gulf wars was discussed in terms of the change of Britain's policy to America in this paper. During the gulf war from 1990 to 1991, the United States of America launched military action against Iraq as a "world police". Britain became the most loyal supporter and played an important role in this war. As the same, Britain fell toward the United States again as America's "great ally" in the second Iraq war which occurred in early 21st century. However, we should not conclude that they were restoring the "special relationship" in the postwar. In the other word, we should not conclude that Britain pursued "following diplomacy". In fact, the essence behind the phenomenon was Britain's orientation in the international affaires.This thesis consists of five chapters. The first chapter is Introduction. The research result of this point was narrated. The main meaning and the research purpose of this subject were indicated.The historical background of the paper was introduced in the second part. It was discussed on three aspects:the Three-Circles Doctrine, the characteristics of Anglo-American relationship since the cold war, policy for Middle East postwar of British and American. After the Second World War, the politic, economic and diplomatic strength of Britain declined day after day. In the face of the reality, Churchill insisted on the Three-Circles Doctrine, which put the relationship with the United States in the first place. From then the Anglo-American "special relationship" has formed and it become the diplomatic criteria which many British leaders observed. However, there was "no special factors" in the "special relationship" sometimes. The development of European integration couldn't be long ignored by Britain, so Britain began to be involved in it. But the "special relationship" with America was not totally given up by Britain. The anti-American and pro-American emotions have coexisted in Britain after the Second World Warâ…¡. When the pro-western party collapsed in the coup of Bagdad in 1958, America and Britain responded immediately. Although they had been ready to intervent, two countries finally cancelled the military strike. This becomes a typical case that the US and UK jointly played an important role in Middle East affairs after the Second World War and a precedent that they show their common policies towards Iraq after the Cold War.Britain's policy towards the America against the background of the Gulf War is discussed in the third chapter. When the Iraq invasion into Kuwait became a fact, the United States, as a "world police", immediately responded. It established an international military striking alliances under its the control of American, and finally launched the Gulf War. Britain played an important role in the war. Either in the UN's Security Council coordination or in the military actions, the Britain was always an American's active supporter. But France, as a traditional major European country, continued to implement the "Charles de Gaulle route" and took a "half-hearted" attitude in the whole process due to its distrust to the Anglo-American alliance. Germany also limited its participation because of moral principles. Britain was different from its European allies, showing a close "follow-suit" to the United States. This thesis assumes that the Britain position had its internal reasons. It not only followed the US and became the US buddy, but also intended to reshape its empire image.Britain in the Iraq War is discussed in the fourth chapter. America failed to overthrow Saddam Hussein in the first Gulf War, which made the United States launch a military attack against Iraq once again ten years later. But different from the first Gulf War, this war wasn't authorized by the UN Security Council, and it caused worldwide condemnation by many countries. Especially, France and Germany refused to participate in this war. However, Britain still gave America the furthest degree of support as always, which was mainly reflected in striving for the Security Council resolutions, seeking the excuses for waging war, and actively participating in military actions and so on. But contrasting with the last war, Britain paid more attention to its European allies' attitudes, and constantly wandered between them and America rather than blindly "betrayed" them this time.It is explained why Britain has kept the "special relationship" with America in the two Gulf Wars in the fifth chapter. Britain's attitudes in the two Gulf Wars were compared first. Then the British traditional interests in the Middle East, American and British common cultural tradition, the interaction between their leaders and British own positioning are discussed. Finally it assumes that the British positioning itself was the key factor which decided Britain attitudes in the two Gulf Wars. The conclusion is that, with the improvement of European-American relationship after the Iraq War, it is possible that Britain will strengthen its actor as balancer and coordinator between European and US, and how to positioning its own international role continues to be a critical problem which may decide its development direction in the future.