Cracks appear in Britain’s special relationship with the US

Mike Pompeo’s meeting with Dominic Raab highlighted the differing positions of the two nations on a range of issues, writes Kim Sengupta

Raab and Pompeo did not agree on much (AFP/Getty)

Mike Pompeo’s appearance alongside Dominic Raab at an event in London was meant to show solidarity between Britain and America. Instead, it highlighted the very pronounced and public cracks in the “special relationship” on a number of key issues.

Washington has repeatedly warned that intelligence-sharing with London will be jeopardised if the Chinese company Huawei has access to the UK’s 5G mobile network. Intense and sustained lobbying by the US administration failed to prevent the UK government continuing to allow it, however.

Pompeo said there will be work between the two countries to “get this right”, but he also reiterated the American position that having the Chinese multinational in the network is “very difficult to mitigate”.