As she flew into the US amid a growing row over the new US President’s backing for the torture of terror suspects, the Prime Minister insisted that it was in Britain’s interest to forge the strongest possible “special relationship” with the White House. However, it is also certainly due to her conviction that whoever the USA president is, a British leader needs to, and should, cultivate their friendship.
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The prime minister will meet Mr Trump on Friday in Washington, where the duo will discuss a bilateral trade deal, after stopping off in Philadelphia on Thursday to meet Republican Party leaders. Given the British Supreme Court’s decision this week that the government can not trigger Brexit without parliamentary approval, the Washington talks come at an opportune time for Downing Street. They’ll talk about “the most pressing global issues, notably tackling terrorism, Syria, relations with Russian Federation and cooperation in North Atlantic Treaty Organisation”.
She is also expected to make the case for an ambitious trade deal, which could lead to great “prosperity” for both countries. American capital “is the single biggest source of inward investment to the U.K”.
The Prime Minister will travel to the United States on Thursday when she will become the first foreign serving head of state or government to address the annual congressional Republican retreat, when it gathers for its 30th anniversary in Philadelphia.
“As we rediscover our confidence together, as you renew your nation just as we renew ours, we have the. responsibility to renew the special relationship for this new age”. Except, of course, I wasn’t asked, so the outcome is the same.
“I’m sure that there will be discussion of trade”.
While the prime minister is plainly uncomfortable with some of Mr Trump’s positions, she also wants to emphasise some of the areas where they do agree – the “shared values” of looking out for “ordinary working class families”. The combined GDP of the 27 non-US Nato member states exceeds that of the US, and yet between them they are spending less than half what the US does on defence. Sentiment and flattery can not be substitutes for a realistic assessment of the UK’s national interests. Potential icebergs lie on the horizon, however, not least Mr. Trump’s commitment to “America First” and the fact that any deal could not be finalized – under the terms of Britain’s membership in the European Union – until after the country leaves the supranational body. May could secure a USA trade deal, it would represent a significant win in her battle to show that Britain can, post-Brexit, secure new deals with key partners outside the European Union. You were lauding free trade at Davos in Switzerland, the Chinese talk about free trade.
“The UK and the U.S. have shared challenges, shared interests, that we can work together to deal with”.
The privilege of being the first foreign leader to meet with the U.S. President since his inauguration is usually one celebrated and lauded. “I think Brexit is going to be a great thing”, he declared earlier this month. I believe globalisation is important. It was the Brexit camp that brought the evangelical fervour to the contest – and that, along with distrust of the political establishment and dismay about Britain’s lack of control over immigration, is why the country turned its back on the most successful supra-national grouping of our times.
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She will for a “renewed” special relationship between the United Kingdom and USA at a meeting with Republican leaders in Philadelphia today.
