FOREIGN POLICY/REX TILLERSON/STATE/UK: “The United States needs to pay attention to its treasured relationship with Britain, U.S. Secretary of State Rex Tillerson said on Monday [1-22-18] just days after Donald Trump canceled a trip to London citing anger at the sale of an embassy.
Trump’s cancellation of his trip has raised questions in Britain over the links between Washington and its closest traditional ally in Europe — widely called the ‘special relationship’.
More than a year into his presidency, Trump has yet to visit London and many British voters have promised to protest against a man they see as crude, volatile and opposed to their values on a range of issues.
Tillerson, a former Exxon Mobil CEO, met British Prime Minister Theresa May in her Downing Street residence and then held talks with Foreign Secretary Boris Johnson…
A pillar of Britain’s foreign policy for a century, the special relationship with Washington has taken on added importance as Britain prepares to leave the European Union in 2019.
May and Tillerson discussed ‘continuing depth and breadth’ of the special relationship, May’s office said.
They also touched on one of their most pressing diplomatic challenges: disagreement over the future of a landmark international deal to curb Iran’s nuclear ambitions. The deal has been cast into doubt by Trump, but Britain, along with France and Germany, wants to keep it.”
-William James, “U.S. needs to pay attention to relationship with Britain, Tillerson says,” Reuters, Jan. 22, 2018 04:18am