EXPOSING The Quiet Split Between UK And US Forces In this episode of the Mike Drop Podcast, I sit down with Ant Middleton—former UK Special Forces operator and one of the most unfiltered voices out there—to dig into the truth behind the special relationship between the US and UK. We go way beyond the headlines, from the trenches of World War I to the modern battlefield, talking about the real brotherhood, the friction, and the political BS that soldiers have to navigate. Ant shares raw, firsthand stories of what it’s like when allied forces don’t always see eye-to-eye—and what that means for the future of global warfare. ------------ Support Ant Middleton - Check out Ant's Podcast at https://www.youtube.com/c/AntMiddleton Website - https://www.antmiddleton.com/ Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/antmiddleton/?hl=en X - https://x.com/antmiddleton?lang=en ---------- #sponsored BUBS Naturals The BUBS namesake derives from Glen ‘BUB’ Doherty, who was heroically killed in Benghazi, Libya in 2012. In addition to remembering Glen for the patriot he is, the BUBS ethos centers around the passionate and adventure seeking life that Glen lived. BUBS Naturals products are rooted in sustainably sourced ingredients and controlled consistency to provide our customers with the highest quality Collagen Protein & MCT Oil Powder that help you feel amazing and live a fuller life. Our mission is simple. FEEL GREAT. DO GOOD. 10% always goes back to charity, helping military men and women transition back into civilian life. Go to https://www.bubsnaturals.com/mike and use code MIKE for 20% off your order. TEAM DOG FOOD, TREATS & SUPPLEMENTS Be Your Dog’s Hero: Veteran-owned by a former Navy SEAL and Special Operations K9 Trainer, Team Dog provides a complete diet of science-backed premium dog food, treats, and supplements to optimize your dog’s health, forged from rigorous standards and real-world expertise. https://www.teamdog.shop TEAM DOG ONLINE TRAINING Mike Ritland – a former Navy SEAL & Special Operations K9 trainer – shares his simple and effective dog training program to build trust and control with your dog. Based on Mike’s bestselling book “Team Dog, Train the Navy SEAL Way”, join tens of thousands of families that successfully trained their way to a better dog. https://www.teamdog.pet SHOP ALL THE MIKE RITLAND BRANDS Get all your Mike Ritland branded gear - Mike Drop | Trikos | Team Dog https://shop.mikeritland.com CHAPTERS 00:00:00 US-UK Military Alliance & Modern Fractures 00:01:09 Team Dog Meal Plans (Ad Break) 00:01:40 Introducing Ant Middleton 00:02:17 Veteran Respect & Public Perception 00:08:37 UK Military Decline & Political Influence 00:15:12 Squadron Training & Selection Hardships 00:22:03 SAS Briefing & Pre-Selection Challenges 00:30:20 The Reality of Special Forces Training 00:39:15 Childhood & Joining the Military 00:46:05 Balancing Family & Extreme Professions 00:54:50 Lessons from Special Forces for Civilian Life 01:02:49 Bubs Naturals Ad (Tribute to Glen Doherty) 01:03:01 Ant’s Post-Military Career 1:10:21 SAS Selection: The Final Test 1:12:13 Afghanistan Deployment 1:17:01 Handling Casualties in Combat 1:20:49 US-UK Military Alliance: Then and Now 1:26:03 Modern Warfare 1:30:15 Conventional vs Special Forces Mission Clarity 1:41:25 Mental Resilience in Elite Training 1:45:30 Resistance to Interrogation Phase 1:52:34 Final Stages of SAS Selection 1:58:30 Choosing Between SAS and SPS 2:08:00 Leaving the Military: The Security Trap 2:15:17 Advice to Veterans: Step Out, Don’t Fall Back 2:17:56 Afghanistan Tier One Deployment Begins 2:23:06 Wheelbarrow Bomb & Retaliatory Ops 2:27:15 Air Stacks, Chinooks, and Apache Coordination 2:34:05 Trump’s Iran Strike and the UK’s Exclusion 2:37:29 Brexit Didn't Fix ECHR or Immigration 2:39:10 UK’s Tax Tolerance 2:41:20 UK Knife Epidemic 2:46:02 Running for Mayor of London in 2028 2:52:01 Why I’m Running for Office 2:56:50 Ryan Reynolds and the Wrexham Football Phenomenon 3:00:49 Finance, Power, and Control: The UK’s Hidden Hand 3:02:32 Red Tape in Afghanistan and the Breaking Point 3:04:54 My Exit from War and the Search for a New Mission 3:07:26 TV Came Out of Nowhere—And I Took the Chance 3:12:03 From One TV Show to a Multimedia Empire 3:15:43 The Truth About Women in Special Operations 3:26:54 Catching Up on Family and Personal Life 3:31:54 Success in Business and F1 3:38:53 Passion for Cars Lamborghini 3:42:17 Political Ambitions 3:52:49 Closing #TheMikeDropPodcast #MikeRitland #Geopolitics #MikeRitlandPodcast #DonaldTrump #PeteHegseth #JDVance #AntMiddleton #SASWhoDaresWins #AntMiddletonInterview #SpecialForcesTraining #SASSurvival #SASTraining #DavidGoggins #TimKennedy #Afghanistan #UKKnifeEpidemic #SASSelection #USUKRelations #UKUSAlliance #UKUSTrade #UKForeignPolicy #NATOAllies #Trump #UK #USForces #KeirStarmer #IsraelIran #RussiaUkraineWar #ShawnRyan #DJShipley