The UK is in its relationship with the US like the speccy, weedy kid who follows the big school bully around the playground, telling him who to beat up and making sure all the first-years have handed over their lunch money. Or, if you prefer, like Jabba's little mate. The US may or may not appreciate this, but at the end of the day, nations don't have permanent alliances, they have permanent interests. As the US reorientates its strategic posture towards East and South Asia, the UK will become increasingly irrelevant to them.