Britain’s May to discuss trade, NATO with Trump

LONDON / AP

British Prime Minister Theresa May said on Sunday she plans to discuss free trade and the importance of the NATO military alliance when she becomes the first foreign leader to meet with US President Donald Trump in
Washington.
The White House’s invitation for May to meet with Trump on Friday was seen in Britain as affirmation that Trump values the vaunted “special relationship” between the United States and its longtime ally across the Atlantic.
She told BBC’s Andrew Marr that the Trump team is interested in discussing a new trade arrangement with Britain despite the “America first” theme of Trump’s inaugural address and his vow to evaluate every trade deal for its possible benefits to the United States.
Any national leader would do the same when deciding whether to sign a trade pact, May said.
Britain sees a future trade agreement with the United States as vital as the country prepares to leave the European Union. However, Britain’s desire for increased trade could clash with Trump’s protectionist stance.
May said she would also raise the value of the NATO military alliance during the meeting. She called it the “bulwark” of Europe’s defense system.
Trump has rattled European allies by suggesting NATO is “obsolete” and that the United States might not come to the aid of countries that don’t meet targets for their own defense spending. May maintained that Trump understands NATO’s vital role. European leaders worry about a watering down of the NATO role given the increasingly aggressive actions by Russia in recent years.