UK must respect Trump's mandate, new US ambassador tells BBC

On his first day in office, the newly appointed British Ambassador to the United States, Lord Peter Mandelson, stated in an interview with the British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) that the UK must respect President Donald Trump's "strong and clear mandate for change." He emphasized that while the UK may not agree with every detail of Trump's agenda, it must understand the driving forces behind it and the mission he has undertaken, and allies need to adjust accordingly.

Lord Mandelson presented his diplomatic credentials to the U.S. State Department on Monday, officially assuming his role as Ambassador to Washington. In the BBC interview, he stated that his past criticisms of Trump were "misjudgments and mistakes" and elaborated on the differences between the UK and the US on Middle East policy. He also mentioned that the British government has established a "strong relationship and very close personal relationship" with President Trump.

Regarding how he will approach his work as ambassador, Lord Mandelson stated that both the UK and the US want to promote economic growth. He believes that the two countries need to establish a technology and investment relationship that is fit for the 21st century, and this will be the focus of his work. He also expressed "concern" about potential US tariffs on the UK, but believes that the trade relationship between the UK and the US is currently very balanced, and US tariffs are not directly targeting the UK.

Lord Mandelson stated that despite this, the UK should not be complacent, and he will focus on dialogue with the US to ensure that the UK does not become "collateral damage" from American policy. He also revealed that UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer also maintains a "close personal relationship" with President Trump, which will help with trade negotiations. He believes that with this relationship, the UK can express its views directly and privately in a timely manner, thereby influencing the President and his policies.

Nevertheless, Trump and Starmer have clear differences on the future of the Gaza Strip. President Trump has stated that Palestinians who leave will have no right to return in his Gaza reconstruction plan, while Starmer has stated that they "must be allowed to go home." Lord Mandelson said that the President had put forward some "interesting ideas" on the future of Gaza, adding that the US and the UK needed to work together to achieve peace and security in the Middle East. He emphasized that the UK's goal is very clear: to establish a secure and reliable Israel, and a secure and prosperous Palestinian state, and how to achieve this remains to be seen.