US-UK Conflicts: From Revolution to Iraq War

The US and UK have fought two major wars and disagreed on modern interventions:

Historical Wars

• American Revolution (1775–1783): Colonies won independence; Treaty of Paris 1783.
• War of 1812 (1812–1815): Impressment, trade, Native alliances; Treaty of Ghent restored status quo.

20th Century Allies

WWI, WWII, Korea, Gulf War – close allies.

Major Modern Rift

Iraq War (2003): UK joined US-led invasion without UN mandate. Massive controversy, damaged trust, sparked protests in both nations. WMD claims proved false.

Current Relations

Strong alliance: intelligence (Five Eyes), trade, defense, nuclear cooperation. Disagreements persist (e.g., Iran deal, ICC, climate pace) but institutional ties are deep.