With only days to go before the inauguration of U.S. President-elect Donald Trump ushers in a new era of trans-Atlantic ties, the Obama administration is working to reassure European allies that the fundamentals of the relationship remain unchanged.
U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry arrived Monday in London, the second-to-the last stop of his final foreign tour.
Among critics of the outgoing administration on this side of the Atlantic, it has been a long goodbye and Kerry's visit appeared to be all but an afterthought on the agenda of British leaders as they focused more on looking ahead than reflecting on the past.
Trump on Brexit
A meeting with British Foreign Secretary Boris Johnson was to be on Syria and other issues. Kerry also held a low-key meeting with the Archbishop of Canterbury, Justin Welby, in which the two discussed international reconciliation.
For Britain's current leaders, however, the focus on Monday was more on the remarks that Trump has made in favor of Brexit, the British voters' decision to leave the European Union, and the new administration's assurances that new and better trade deals are on the horizon.
“We hear that we are the first in line to do a great free trade deal with the United States,” said Johnson last week after getting those assurances during a trip to the U.S. ahead of the inauguration.
The remark reflected new optimism following the Trump victory after outgoing President Barack Obama last year warned Britain it would go to the back of the line on trade deals if it voted to leave the European Union.
Words of support for May
The assurances are welcome words for British Prime Minister Theresa May, who on Tuesday is set to deliver a speech at parliament outlining her plan for Brexit. May is expected to announce Britain will leave the European single market and analysts said assurances that the U.S. would sign a quick trade deal with Britain would help compensate for a withdrawal.
Whether Trump will make getting Britain to the front of the line his administration's top priority remains somewhat in question. When the president-elect was asked in an interview with Britain's The Times and Germany's Bild newspapers this week whether that would indeed be the case, Trump's reply was, “I think you're doing great.”
“I thought the UK was so smart in getting out,” Trump said. “Countries want their own identity and the UK wanted its own identity but I do believe this: if they hadn't been forced to take in all of the refugees, so many, with all the problems that it entails, I think that you probably wouldn't have had a Brexit.”
Merkel waiting
In the interview, Trump blasted the decision by German Chancellor Angela Merkel to call for Britain and other European Union members to accept migrant quotas and an open door policy in her own country.
“I think she made one very catastrophic mistake and that was taking in all of these illegals, taking all of the illegals from wherever they come from and nobody really knows where they came from. You'll find out,” Trump said.
Asked about Trump's criticism of her migrant policy, Merkel told reporters, “I am personally waiting for the inauguration of the U.S. president. Then of course, we will work with him on all levels.”
In remarks Monday, Kerry told CNN journalist Christiane Amanpour he thought it was “inappropriate” for a president-elect of the United States “to be stepping into the politics in a quite direct manner.” Kerry said Merkel has been “extremely courageous” in her response to the refugee crisis, which he acknowledged has “had some problems.”
