Britain must use its relationship with the US to try to shape its World view (Image: Getty Images)
Britain must use its “special relationship” with the US to try and influence Donald Trump’s stance on Ukraine and the Middle East, a former head of MI6 has declared.
Sir Richard Dearlove said diplomats should “try to de-Trump this a little bit” and take his personality and reputation out of talks.
DON'T MISS
Powered by
TRUMP v HARRIS - who will benefit the UK more?
213 Comments
Britain must be braced for fallout from US election... whichever candidate wins
45 Comments
Keir Starmer humiliated as Hungarian PM greets every leader except him at major summit
867 Comments
POLL: Are you scared Vladimir Putin may win the war in Ukraine? Vote here
58 Comments
Donald Trump leaves me fearing civil war in US if he loses election to Kamala Harris
28 Comments
Russia delighted as ‘useful' Donald Trump re-elected - but could he end Ukraine war?
141 Comments
Lee Anderson: Why Donald Trump's victory is a win for the world
17 Comments
This is why Trump was elected - and the woke elite will hate it
23 Comments
What Keir Starmer could learn from Donald Trump's second term in office
31 Comments
Keir Starmer savaged in poll as third of Brits think Kamala Harris would do a better job
79 Comments
Keir Starmer warned 'problem won't go away' after ally's 'incredibly embarrassing' blunder
29 Comments
Has Keir Starmer wrecked the US-UK 'Special Relationship'?
240 Comments
EU facing huge crisis as US urged to 'withhold' forces from Europe to fight China
93 Comments
Desperate Liberal Democrats make urgent demand as deluded Ed Davey issues Trump warning
119 Comments
Nigel Farage makes surprise offer to Keir Starmer after Donald Trump's election win
183 Comments
Sorry Donald! The 6 Labour giants who will be regretting these brutal words on Trump
142 Comments
Keir Starmer and Donald Trump 'fondly' recall September meeting in first call
76 Comments
How Ukraine's path to the EU could about to be hastened under Donald Trump
40 Comments
Starmer warned Trump charm offensive at risk after Lammy and Streeting's 'childish slurs'
896 Comments
Donald Trump win means Keir Starmer needs Nigel Farage whether he likes it or not
98 Comments
TRUMP v HARRIS - who will benefit the UK more?
213 Comments
Britain must be braced for fallout from US election... whichever candidate wins
45 Comments
Keir Starmer humiliated as Hungarian PM greets every leader except him at major summit
867 Comments
POLL: Are you scared Vladimir Putin may win the war in Ukraine? Vote here
58 Comments
Donald Trump leaves me fearing civil war in US if he loses election to Kamala Harris
28 Comments
Russia delighted as ‘useful' Donald Trump re-elected - but could he end Ukraine war?
141 Comments
Lee Anderson: Why Donald Trump's victory is a win for the world
17 Comments
This is why Trump was elected - and the woke elite will hate it
23 Comments
What Keir Starmer could learn from Donald Trump's second term in office
31 Comments
Keir Starmer savaged in poll as third of Brits think Kamala Harris would do a better job
79 Comments
Keir Starmer warned 'problem won't go away' after ally's 'incredibly embarrassing' blunder
29 Comments
Has Keir Starmer wrecked the US-UK 'Special Relationship'?
240 Comments
EU facing huge crisis as US urged to 'withhold' forces from Europe to fight China
93 Comments
Desperate Liberal Democrats make urgent demand as deluded Ed Davey issues Trump warning
119 Comments
Nigel Farage makes surprise offer to Keir Starmer after Donald Trump's election win
183 Comments
Sorry Donald! The 6 Labour giants who will be regretting these brutal words on Trump
142 Comments
Keir Starmer and Donald Trump 'fondly' recall September meeting in first call
76 Comments
How Ukraine's path to the EU could about to be hastened under Donald Trump
40 Comments
Starmer warned Trump charm offensive at risk after Lammy and Streeting's 'childish slurs'
896 Comments
Donald Trump win means Keir Starmer needs Nigel Farage whether he likes it or not
98 Comments
TRUMP v HARRIS - who will benefit the UK more?
213 Comments
Britain must be braced for fallout from US election... whichever candidate wins
45 Comments
Keir Starmer humiliated as Hungarian PM greets every leader except him at major summit
867 Comments
POLL: Are you scared Vladimir Putin may win the war in Ukraine? Vote here
58 Comments
Donald Trump leaves me fearing civil war in US if he loses election to Kamala Harris
28 Comments
Russia delighted as ‘useful' Donald Trump re-elected - but could he end Ukraine war?
141 Comments
Lee Anderson: Why Donald Trump's victory is a win for the world
17 Comments
He added that the President-elect is likely to take a “very tough” stance on Iran, adding the “theocrats” in Tehran “will be extremely nervous about Trump’s election”.
But Sir Richard said Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer must build closer ties with international leaders amid fears Europe could be weakened by the US withdrawing military support for Ukraine.
Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelensky, speaks with Sir Keir Starmer (Image: AP)
Sir Keir Starmer holds a bilateral meeting with Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk (Image: Getty Images)
He told Times Radio: "The worrying thing about the administration at this point in time is its attitude to these foreign conflicts are not a great deal to do with us.
“We need, probably in the UK, to use our special relationship with the United States to enter a very practical dialogue with them on these issues and see if we have any influence over their policy at all.
“But relations with US administrations behind the scenes, even ones that are friendly and which we're close to, take a great deal of hard work at a level below the president.
“And I think you've got to think about those perspective. Look, it's much better if we sit down and think about Trump as POTUS 47, not Trump...Let's try to de-Trump this a little bit."
The Prime Minister congratulated Republican politician Mr Trump on a "historic election victory" after American voters returned him to the White House on Wednesday.
And Downing Street, which is seeking to build bridges with Mr Trump after his campaign filed a legal complaint about Labour activists backing rival Kamala Harris, revealed Sir Keir and Mr Trump had spoken on Wednesday night.
Many World leaders are holding their breath to see how America’s stance on Ukraine and the Middle East changes under Mr Trump.
He said: "I think his approach is practical. Look, Nato member countries, generally speaking, have underspent on defence and relied too heavily on the US umbrella and US defence spending.
Trending
“The state of the world clearly indicates to member states now that we all have to up our game very significantly, not just 2.5 percent of GDP, higher than that, probably nearer three.
“And the UK included, Germany included, all the primary European nations.
“Now, if Trump, as it were, can force the hand of the European nations in terms of their defence policies to up their spending, Nato will benefit enormously.
“And let's face it, those countries that sit directly on a border with Russia are already way down that track, Poland in particular."
Sir Richard also revealed Mr Trump could turn on Vladimir Putin over Ukraine.
Many in Kyiv fear the President-elect will want Ukraine’s President Zelensky to give up some his territory to end the war.
DON'T MISS
Powered by
TRUMP v HARRIS - who will benefit the UK more?
213 Comments
Britain must be braced for fallout from US election... whichever candidate wins
45 Comments
Keir Starmer humiliated as Hungarian PM greets every leader except him at major summit
867 Comments
POLL: Are you scared Vladimir Putin may win the war in Ukraine? Vote here
58 Comments
Donald Trump leaves me fearing civil war in US if he loses election to Kamala Harris
28 Comments
Russia delighted as ‘useful' Donald Trump re-elected - but could he end Ukraine war?
141 Comments
Lee Anderson: Why Donald Trump's victory is a win for the world
17 Comments
This is why Trump was elected - and the woke elite will hate it
23 Comments
What Keir Starmer could learn from Donald Trump's second term in office
31 Comments
Keir Starmer savaged in poll as third of Brits think Kamala Harris would do a better job
79 Comments
Keir Starmer warned 'problem won't go away' after ally's 'incredibly embarrassing' blunder
29 Comments
Has Keir Starmer wrecked the US-UK 'Special Relationship'?
240 Comments
EU facing huge crisis as US urged to 'withhold' forces from Europe to fight China
93 Comments
Desperate Liberal Democrats make urgent demand as deluded Ed Davey issues Trump warning
119 Comments
Nigel Farage makes surprise offer to Keir Starmer after Donald Trump's election win
183 Comments
Sorry Donald! The 6 Labour giants who will be regretting these brutal words on Trump
142 Comments
Keir Starmer and Donald Trump 'fondly' recall September meeting in first call
76 Comments
How Ukraine's path to the EU could about to be hastened under Donald Trump
40 Comments
Starmer warned Trump charm offensive at risk after Lammy and Streeting's 'childish slurs'
896 Comments
Donald Trump win means Keir Starmer needs Nigel Farage whether he likes it or not
98 Comments
TRUMP v HARRIS - who will benefit the UK more?
213 Comments
Britain must be braced for fallout from US election... whichever candidate wins
45 Comments
Keir Starmer humiliated as Hungarian PM greets every leader except him at major summit
867 Comments
POLL: Are you scared Vladimir Putin may win the war in Ukraine? Vote here
58 Comments
Donald Trump leaves me fearing civil war in US if he loses election to Kamala Harris
28 Comments
Russia delighted as ‘useful' Donald Trump re-elected - but could he end Ukraine war?
141 Comments
Lee Anderson: Why Donald Trump's victory is a win for the world
17 Comments
This is why Trump was elected - and the woke elite will hate it
23 Comments
What Keir Starmer could learn from Donald Trump's second term in office
31 Comments
Keir Starmer savaged in poll as third of Brits think Kamala Harris would do a better job
79 Comments
Keir Starmer warned 'problem won't go away' after ally's 'incredibly embarrassing' blunder
29 Comments
Has Keir Starmer wrecked the US-UK 'Special Relationship'?
240 Comments
EU facing huge crisis as US urged to 'withhold' forces from Europe to fight China
93 Comments
Desperate Liberal Democrats make urgent demand as deluded Ed Davey issues Trump warning
119 Comments
Nigel Farage makes surprise offer to Keir Starmer after Donald Trump's election win
183 Comments
Sorry Donald! The 6 Labour giants who will be regretting these brutal words on Trump
142 Comments
Keir Starmer and Donald Trump 'fondly' recall September meeting in first call
76 Comments
How Ukraine's path to the EU could about to be hastened under Donald Trump
40 Comments
Starmer warned Trump charm offensive at risk after Lammy and Streeting's 'childish slurs'
896 Comments
Donald Trump win means Keir Starmer needs Nigel Farage whether he likes it or not
98 Comments
TRUMP v HARRIS - who will benefit the UK more?
213 Comments
Britain must be braced for fallout from US election... whichever candidate wins
45 Comments
Keir Starmer humiliated as Hungarian PM greets every leader except him at major summit
867 Comments
POLL: Are you scared Vladimir Putin may win the war in Ukraine? Vote here
58 Comments
Donald Trump leaves me fearing civil war in US if he loses election to Kamala Harris
28 Comments
Russia delighted as ‘useful' Donald Trump re-elected - but could he end Ukraine war?
141 Comments
Lee Anderson: Why Donald Trump's victory is a win for the world
17 Comments
But the former MI6 chief said: "The risk, of course, is that the lever he uses to force Zelensky to the table is the withdrawal of support, financial support and armament support to Ukraine.
“That's extremely worrying. But we don't actually know that's what he's going to do yet. And I think one should be, as I say, very careful. Zelensky's had contacts with Trump.
“Maybe Trump, if Putin rejects his deal, will react very badly towards Putin. And there are all sorts of dimensions to this problem."