UK Ambassador Mandelson Warns UK Cannot Take US Special Relationship for Granted

Lord Peter Mandelson, the UK ambassador to the United States, has cautioned that Britain cannot take its "special relationship" with the US for granted despite President Donald Trump's apparent warmth towards the UK. Mandelson emphasized the indispensability of the US partnership to the UK and stressed the need for Britain to avoid complacency, demonstrating to future US administrations the tangible value of UK-US cooperation in economics, technology, and security. He notably framed Brexit as a liberating force that provides the UK with regulatory freedom to deepen American investment opportunities, countering earlier warnings that Brexit would diminish British influence in Washington. Mandelson praised Trump as a risk taker who recognizes economic and social anxieties shared by both nations, drawing parallels between Trump’s and Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer’s mandates for national renewal. His remarks come amid ongoing trade negotiations, including efforts to secure tariff exemptions on British steel, and ahead of Trump's state visit to the UK. The ambassador's speech also indirectly responds to the rising influence of UK political figures like Nigel Farage, who align closely with Trump-style policies.