Portrait of Theresa May
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Theresa May on United States

Diplomatic key ally (strong)

TL;DR

Theresa May consistently emphasized the United Kingdom's foundational and essential special relationship with the United States.

Key Points

  • She addressed the Republican Party retreat in Philadelphia in January 2017, calling for a strong US-UK partnership.

  • In January 2017, she held a joint press conference emphasizing security and trade cooperation with the US President.

  • She stated that the UK looked forward to forging a deep and special partnership with the United States after leaving the European Union.

Summary

Theresa May's tenure as Prime Minister was characterized by a strong reaffirmation of the United Kingdom’s special relationship with the United States, viewing it as the cornerstone of its foreign policy and global standing. Following her initial meeting with the US President in January 2017, she stressed the enduring partnership, particularly on security and intelligence cooperation, while also seeking to forge a robust post-Brexit trade agreement. Her official statements and joint press conferences underscored a desire to deepen ties across defence, trade, and shared democratic values, portraying a united front on major international challenges.

This relationship, however, existed in a specific political context, requiring careful navigation around domestic political shifts within the US administration. The Prime Minister sought to maintain momentum on negotiating a future trade deal even as the US administration faced internal scrutiny and criticism regarding its global policies. Her approach generally favored close alignment where possible while diplomatically managing areas of divergence, ensuring the bilateral bond remained paramount despite evolving international dynamics.

Key Quotes

I still believe—I personally believe—that it is in the best interest of the U.K. to leave the European Union with a deal.

The UK-U.S. relationship is also defined by the role we play on the world stage.

Frequently Asked Questions

Theresa May viewed the United States as the UK's most crucial international partner, repeatedly emphasizing the enduring 'special relationship.' She prioritized deepening ties on security, intelligence, and a future trade agreement following Brexit.

Her core position remained consistent: strong support for the special relationship with the United States. However, the practical execution required careful diplomacy to navigate the specific political environment of the American administration at the time.

The former Prime Minister prioritized maintaining and strengthening cooperation in areas of national security and intelligence sharing. Furthermore, she actively pursued a comprehensive bilateral trade deal between the two nations post-Brexit.