Boris Johnson and Donald Trump speak to each other for the third time in three weeks as allies of the US President push for Brexit to be delivered to kickstart trade talks
- Boris Johnson and Donald Trump spoke today to discuss Brexit and trade
- It is the third call between the two leaders since Mr Johnson became PM
- Came as senior ally of Mr Trump told UK officials US will cushion Britain’s EU exit
- John Bolton in London to meet Chancellor Sajid Javid, Trade Secretary Liz Truss
Boris Johnson and Donald Trump spoke to each other for the third time in three weeks today as they discussed a growing appetite on both sides of the Atlantic for a post-Brexit free trade deal.
Downing Street revealed this afternoon that the pair had spoken again ahead of the first anticipated face to face meeting between the two leaders at a G7 summit in France later this month.
It came as John Bolton, the US President’s national security adviser, told British officials today that Mr Trump wants to see Brexit delivered so Washington and London can get started on new mutually beneficial trading arrangements.
Mr Bolton is in London for two days of talks as he looks to boost transatlantic ties between the Trump administration and the new British government.
Both sides are keen for a reset in relations after a diplomatic row over leaked memos in Theresa May’s final days as PM soured the special relationship.
Mr Bolton is expected to make clear that the US will help cushion Britain’s exit from the EU with a free trade agreement that is being worked on by US Trade Representative Robert Lighthizer and his UK counterpart, Liz Truss, the International Trade Secretary.
Donald Trump, pictured on the South Lawn of the White House on August 9, and Boris Johnson have spoken three times since the latter became PM
Mr Johnson is keen to reset relations between the US and the UK after the special relationship was soured by a diplomatic row during the final days of Theresa May’s time in Number 10
The frequency of contact between Mr Johnson and Mr Trump will be seen as a major boost for the new British premier.
A free trade deal with the US is viewed by Brexiteers as one of the main benefits of the UK leaving the European Union.
The relationship between Mr Johnson and Mr Trump is noticeably friendlier than the one between Mr Trump and Mrs May at the end of her premiership.
The two men spoke immediately after Mr Johnson became PM at the end of July and again at the start of August.
Today’s call takes the tally to three conversations in less than three weeks.
All three phone calls are believed to have touched on the crunch issues of trade and Brexit.
A Downing Street spokesman said this afternoon: ‘The Prime Minister spoke to President Trump today.
‘They discussed global economic issues and trade, and the Prime Minister updated the President on Brexit.’
The pair will meet for the first time as leaders at the G7 in Biarritz later this month with the expectation that they will sit down for formal talks.
The US President has lavished praise on Mr Johnson since he won the keys to Downing Street.
He welcomed the former mayor of London’s election as Tory leader by predicting he would do a ‘great job’ and suggested he was ‘Britain Trump’.
Mr Bolton was due to have lunch with Cabinet Secretary Sir Mark Sedwill today before heading to Downing Street to see Sir Edward Lister, Mr Johnson’s chief strategic adviser.
He is also due to see Sajid Javid, the new Chancellor of the Exchequer.
John Bolton met Trade Secretary Liz Truss and Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab in Washingon last week
John Bolton is in London for two days of talks as he looks to boost transatlantic ties between the Trump administration and that of Boris Johnson (pictured in Downing Street today) after the departure of Theresa May.
Mr Bolton’s arrival in London came as Carrie Symonds, Mr Johnson’s partner, was spotted arriving at the back of Downing Street today
A senior Trump administration official, describing Mr Bolton’s message to British officials, said Mr Trump ‘wants to see a successful British exit from the European Union’ and that a trade deal would help Britain.
Mr Trump had wanted to work with the May government on a trade deal but her government ‘didn’t want do it. This government does. We’re very happy about it,’ the official told reporters traveling with Mr Bolton.
Mr Trump believes that ‘when it comes to trade negotiations the EU is worse than China, only smaller,’ the official said.
On Tuesday, Mr Bolton is to meet Ms Truss as well as Ben Wallace, the new Defence Secretary, and Brexit Secretary Steven Barclay.
Sterling nosedived to its lowest level against the euro since the darkest days of the financial crisis today as the UK was warned that No Deal Brexit ‘talk’ was spooking the financial markets.
The pound tanked overnight to a low of 1.0725 euros to the pound, the lowest level since October 2009, when Europe was in the grip of the worst economic situation for 80 years.
It later made a slight recovery but it means that already badly-hit holidaymakers setting off on holiday abroad face getting even less spending money for the pounds in their pockets.
The UK currency made a slight gain against against the US dollar after losses on Friday linked to worrying new GDP figures.
The US diplomat is expected to urge officials from Mr Johnson’s newly formed government to align its policy on Iran more along the lines of the United States, which has pushed a much tougher line against Tehran.
Britain has so far backed the European Union in sticking with the Iranian nuclear accord, known as the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action, but the seizure of a British oil tanker in the Strait of Hormuz has put pressure on London to consider a more robust stance.
Royal Marines seized an Iranian vessel, which is suspected of smuggling oil to Syria, off the coast of Gibraltar on July 4. This month, Britain joined the United States in a maritime security mission in the Gulf to protect merchant vessels.
Mr Trump has also sought Britain’s help in getting tougher on the Chinese telecommunications firm Huawei out of concern that its next-generation 5G technology represent a national security risk.
Washington wants its allies, including Britain, to avoid using equipment from Huawei.
The National Security Council, then chaired by Mrs May, met to discuss Huawei in April and an initial decision was made to block Huawei from involvement in building all critical parts of the 5G network but to give it restricted access to less sensitive parts.
But Mr Bolton hopes to find a more friendly audience on the topic from the Johnson government. A final decision has yet to be taken by the British government.
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