Lord Peter Mandelson, the new UK ambassador to the US, has stated that the UK must respect President Donald Trump’s “strong and clear mandate for change”. Mandelson acknowledged that the UK would not necessarily agree with every specific of Trump’s agenda but emphasised that “we have to respect and understand what drives him, what his mandate is to do, and how his allies need to adjust sometimes”. Mandelson also emphasised that the US and UK could make a mutually beneficial relationship around “build[ing] a technology and investment relationship that’s fit for the 21st Century”.
Mandelson spoke on Monday in an interview given after he presented his diplomatic credentials to the US State Department and officially became the ambassador to Washington. The 71-year-old apologised for his previous criticisms of Trump, saying they were “ill-judged and wrong”. Mandelson is also the first political appointee to the US ambassador’s role in 50 years. He is reassuming a prominent political position in Washington, having previously served in several Labour governments.
Last week, Trump hinted that tariffs on EU goods could happen “pretty soon”. US allies in steel and aluminum markets are also anxiously awaiting possible tariffs which could have far-reaching effects. While “concerned,” Mandelson nevertheless underscored that “We actually have a very balanced trade relationship between Britain and the US. I don’t believe that his tariffs are actually directly targeted at us…that shouldn’t make us complacent, and I’m not complacent. I’m going to focus, in a laser-like way, on the dialogue between us to make sure that we do not become collateral damage in the US.”
Mandelson also addressed the differences the UK and US held in policies relating to the Middle East. However, he believes that both the US and UK need to work together to achieve peace and security in the Middle East, stating that “the British goal is very clear…how we get there remains to be seen.
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