Transatlantic programme: The 1946 Forum
Parliamentary Chair:
The Rt Hon Liam Byrne MP
Strengthening the transatlantic relationship.
Security, prosperity, leadership.
CGP’s US work is managed through The 1946 Forum, a cross-party forum for British politicians with an interest in foreign affairs to privately discuss the UK’s place in the world. It is inspired by Churchill’s 1946 ‘Sinews of Peace’ speech which coined the phrase the ‘special relationship’.
We host bipartisan MP visits to Washington DC to facilitate cooperation between decision-makers in the UK and US, providing an opportunity to learn from our greatest ally, deepen transatlantic relations and discuss policies that promote security, prosperity and leadership.
Our Work
In the aftermath of the Second World War, Sir Winston Churchill delivered his assessment of the rebalancing of power and advocated for robust international institutions to uphold the values the Allies had defended. It was in 1946 at Westminster College in Fulton, Missouri that he delivered the ‘Sinews of Peace’ speech and the ‘Special Relationship’ was born.
Inspired by this seminal speech, we created the 1946 Forum. This cross-party forum works to strengthen the transatlantic relationship by promoting security, prosperity and leadership.
But what of its relevance today? Our nations remain long standing friends and allies, inited in our shared values of freedom, democracy and prosperity. We are both founding members of NATO, hold key positions of influence in international institutions and provide wide-ranging humanitarian support to countries in need.
Today the UK and US face the most volatile geopolitical challenges since the Cold War, with a more competitive and aggressive China, Russia, Iran, and North Korea to deal with, as well as ‘problems without passports’ such as climate change, pandemics and migration.
Together we can strengthen the transatlantic alliance as a force for good.
Latest News from the 1946 Programme
