Days before the return of Donald Trump to the White House, David Lammy has spoken out, challenging the President-elect’s rhetoric. Whilst keen to talk up relations between the UK and the US, he expressed concerns regarding aspects of the Trump administration’s policies. He criticised the President-elect’s refusal to rule out military action against Greenland, calling it an example of “destabilising rhetoric”. He also expressed concern regarding the President-elect’s call for NATO members to spend 5% of their national income on defence, particularly given the US only spends 3.38%. Mr Lammy drew attention to the need for the UK and the US to work closely together given global challenges such as the situation in Syria, the wars in Europe and the Middle East, and the growing problems in Sudan.
Mr Lammy acknowledged that his “progressive realist” approach to foreign policy meant seeking progressive ends whilst accepting the world as it is. He appears to be taking a cautious wait-and-see approach, indicating that he will be guided more by Mr Trump’s actions rather than his rhetoric. He called for greater engagement with China on trade, climate, health, and artificial intelligence and, in a departure from the stance of Trump’s allies, urged China not to throw in its lot with Russia, Iran, and North Korea.
Mr Lammy’s comments come as Mr Trump prepares to take office and are therefore timely, especially given the controversy surrounding the recent revelations that President Obama’s last-minute decision to block the transfer of funds to Kenya’s security forces was driven in part by concerns that the money would be used to rig the upcoming 2017 elections. In the face of these complex issues, Mr Lammy’s combination of support and caution underscores the challenges likely to face governments around the world as they engage with the Trump administration
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