For years Britain traded on being America’s closest and most reliable ally.
Boris Johnson has now discovered the relationship between our two countries is neither that durable nor indeed that special.
First he was blindsided by Joe Biden’s decision to pull out of Afghanistan, now he has been rebuffed.
At today's hastily arranged virtual summit of G7 leaders the Prime Minister urged the President to extend the deadline for the withdrawing of American troops beyond the August 31 deadline.
The call fell on deaf ears.
Britain has gone from standing shoulder-to-shoulder with America to being given the cold shoulder.
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The Prime Minister tried to put the best possible gloss on this rejection but there is no disguising this was brutal lesson in the limitations of Global Britain’s power and reach.
Tony Blair used to be mocked for being George W Bush’s poodle but at least the former Labour Premier was given a hearing.
Johnson has less influence in the White House than the Biden’s dog walker.
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To add to the humiliation, Britain has had to accept that without US muscle we have neither the clout nor the resources to prevent the Taliban from dictating when the borders will be finally slammed closed.
The G7 statement today was full of strong words about holding the Taliban to account.
There was no explanation of how they do this because nobody wants to admit that words are all that is left in their armoury.
