LONDON, United Kingdom: Prime Minister Andy Burnham said on July 26 that UK-US relations would not prevent him from publicly challenging President Donald Trump whenever British national interests required it.
Burnham told BBC journalist Laura Kuenssberg that every national leader must put their country’s interests first. His comments appeared in his first major interview since becoming prime minister.
He described his initial contact with Trump as warm but declined to give an unconditional answer when asked whether he trusted the US president.
Trump previously called Burnham “extremely liberal.” However, he later described their first telephone conversation as “very good,” according to Reuters’ report on the interview.
Iran presents an early test for the relationship. Burnham’s government has maintained Britain’s refusal to support US offensive operations against Iran while backing cooperation to secure the Strait of Hormuz.
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Defense Secretary Wes Streeting said Britain and the United States could also work together to prevent Iran from developing nuclear weapons and strengthen NATO capabilities. However, continuing hostilities complicated those efforts, The Guardian reported.
Burnham reaffirmed Britain’s commitment to NATO’s target of spending 3.5% of gross domestic product on defence by 2035. He did not commit to reaching 3% by 2030, saying the government must first fully fund its defence investment plan.
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The prime minister also ruled out an early general election. UK law requires the next national vote by August 2029. The BBC plans to broadcast Burnham’s full interview on “Panorama” on July 27.
