The special relationship ‘will flourish and grow stronger’
THE US has said that its “special relationship” with the UK will “grow even stronger” thanks to Brexit.
Woody Johnson, Washington’s ambassador to the UK, welcomed Britain’s formal exit from the EU, and added that it had been “long supported” by Donald Trump, the US president.
Mr Johnson said that the severing of the 47-year tie with the European bloc will allow a transatlantic trade deal to be forged to “increase prosperity” and drive up employment.
In a statement shortly before the departure deadline of 11pm on Friday, he told Britons that the US “shares your optimism and excitement”.
“On behalf of the United States government, I would like to wish the United Kingdom every success as you chart a new path outside of the European
Union,” he said. “This is a special relationship which will endure, flourish and grow even stronger in this exciting new era which Britain is now beginning.”
With turbulent times expected on multiple fronts with the US, Mr Johnson
acknowledged that there will be occasional “disagreements”.
“Now that the UK is back in control of its own trade policy, we look forward to achieving a broad free trade agreement that will increase prosperity and create jobs in both our countries,” he said. “There will, no doubt, be disagreements from time to time about the best solutions to the biggest problems.
“That is to be expected – even among friends. But this is an alliance forged in our shared history and our common values.”
Diplomatic relations between the two nations that boast the “special relationship”, however, have been strained.
Boris Johnson, the Prime Minister, rebelled against Mr Trump’s demands for the UK to ban Chinese firm Huawei from its 5G network.
Washington has also refused to extradite Anne Sacoolas, the US intelligence official’s wife who fled the UK after allegedly killing 19-year-old Harry Dunn in a crash in Northamptonshire, claiming diplomatic immunity.
Meanwhile, Mr Trump will pressure the UK to drop a tax on US tech giants, such as Google and Facebook, and Britain is at odds with the US over the Iran nuclear deal.