Last week, something quietly but profoundly important happened in Fulton, Missouri.
More than 30 members of the Missouri House and Missouri Senate—Republicans and Democrats alike—gathered at Westminster College, on the very ground where Sir Winston Churchill delivered his historic Iron Curtain speech in 1946. They came together as members of the Friends of the UK Caucus, the first state-level UK caucus of its kind in the United States that was formed in early 2021, to reflect on history, strengthen relationships, and engage thoughtfully with the future.
I was deeply honored to address this group over dinner.
There are few places more symbolic of the enduring UK–US relationship than Fulton. Churchill’s speech, delivered alongside President Harry Truman, was not merely a warning about the dangers of division—it was a call to shared values: liberty, democracy, rule of law, and moral courage. Nearly eight decades later, those values remain the bedrock of the transatlantic relationship, even as the world grows more complex.
The Importance of the UK–US Relationship—Closer Than We Think
The relationship between the United Kingdom and the United States is often discussed at the federal level, through diplomacy, defense, and global trade. But what is increasingly clear is that state-level relationships matter deeply.
Missouri’s partnership with the UK is not theoretical—it is active, growing, and tangible.
The UK is one of Missouri’s most important international partners, with deep ties across agriculture, advanced manufacturing, financial services, aerospace, defense, life sciences, and higher education. British companies employ thousands of Missourians. Missouri companies operate and invest across the UK. Our universities collaborate. Our researchers exchange ideas. Our students, entrepreneurs, and civic leaders move back and forth across the Atlantic.
What makes the Friends of the UK Caucus so powerful is that it recognizes this reality and gives it structure, continuity, and bipartisan support. It ensures that relationships are not dependent on a single administration or personality, but are sustained by shared purpose and long-term thinking.
Missouri and the UK: A Relationship on the Rise
The Missouri–UK relationship is not standing still—it is accelerating.
Recent and ongoing developments underscore this momentum:
- Professional license reciprocity legislation, which would make it easier for qualified professionals to work across borders, strengthening workforce mobility and economic collaboration.
- The return of direct flights between London and St. Louis, dramatically reducing friction for business, tourism, academic exchange, and cultural ties.
- The 2026 World Cup, which will bring unprecedented global attention, international visitors, and economic opportunity to the region—while reinforcing Missouri’s place on the world stage.
- The ARISE agritech project, a new trilateral collaboration involving the UK, the United States, and Latin America that is hosting a major knowledge exchange in St. Louis this week to accelerate innovation in agricultural technology, sustainable food systems, and AI-driven solutions. ARISE exemplifies how the UK and Missouri are working together on cutting-edge economic opportunities that benefit farmers, researchers, and entrepreneurs alike.
These are not isolated developments. They are signals of a deeper alignment: a shared belief that openness, cooperation, and exchange make us stronger.
Learning From History, Acting in the Present
What struck me most about this gathering was not just the location, but the spirit in the room.
At a time when political discourse is often fractured, here were legislators from both parties engaging seriously, respectfully, and collaboratively—focused not on short-term politics, but on long-term relationships and shared opportunity.
That is exactly what Churchill hoped for when he spoke in Fulton in 1946. His warning about an “iron curtain” was also an appeal for unity among free nations, grounded in mutual understanding and trust.
Today’s challenges are different, but the lesson is the same: alliances must be nurtured, not assumed.
80 Years On—Still Inspiring the Future
This year marks the 80th anniversary of Churchill’s Iron Curtain speech.
Eighty years later, his words still echo—not as relics of the past, but as guidance for the future. They remind us that history is not something we simply commemorate; it is something we inherit and are responsible for carrying forward.
The Friends of the UK Caucus, Missouri’s growing partnership with the United Kingdom in the very state where the UK/US relationship was first given the moniker of “special relationship,” and the practical steps being taken today—from legislation to flights to global events and collaborative innovation initiatives like ARISE—are all part of that living legacy.
In Fulton this week, history and future met at the same table. And if Sir Winston were looking on, I suspect he would recognize something familiar: free people, from both sides of the Atlantic and both sides of the aisle, choosing cooperation over complacency—and choosing to build, together, what comes next.