Former British ambassador to the United States Lord Kim Darroch has described US President Donald Trump as unlike any other leader he encountered during his diplomatic career, as UK Prime Minister Andy Burnham prepares for his first face-to-face meeting with the president.
Darroch, who served as Britain’s ambassador to Washington when Trump first entered the White House in 2017, said “personal chemistry” would be important during Burnham’s meeting with the US president at the United Nations General Assembly in New York.
Trump prefers conversation over a strict agenda
According to Darroch, Trump does not necessarily approach high-level meetings in the conventional diplomatic style of working systematically through a prepared agenda.
He said Trump is more likely to engage in an informal conversation about current events, world affairs, sport and other topics, while also using humour and “banter” to assess the person he is meeting.
Darroch advised Burnham to be prepared for the discussion to move away from carefully prepared talking points and to respond quickly to whatever issues Trump raises.
Key issues expected to feature
The meeting comes as Britain and the United States face several sensitive international issues, including the conflicts involving Iran and Israel-Palestine, Russia’s war in Ukraine, defence spending, immigration and energy policy.
Burnham has previously been critical of Trump, but the prime minister is now seeking to manage the relationship with Washington as he attends his first major international gathering since taking office in July. The two leaders have spoken by telephone but are due to meet in person for the first time at the UN.
Former foreign secretary Sir Malcolm Rifkind also advised Burnham to maintain a balance between supporting areas where British and American interests overlap and being firm where their positions differ.
The meeting is therefore expected to provide an early indication of how Burnham intends to navigate Britain’s relationship with the Trump administration while pursuing UK interests on international security, trade and foreign policy.
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