The prime minister said the UK would "never turn away" from its relationship with the US, despite the difficulties the new administration could pose, as it had been the "cornerstone" of security and prosperity for more than a century.
Yet he would also continue to "reset" Britain's relationship with Europe, the country's biggest trading partner, he said, after years of neglect post-Brexit, as strong bilateral links were "vital" for growth and security.
"Against the backdrop of these dangerous times, the idea that we must choose between our allies, that somehow we're with either America or Europe, is plain wrong," he said.
"I reject it utterly. [Clement] Attlee did not choose between allies. [Winston] Churchill did not choose. The national interest demands that we work with both."
His remarks come after foreign policy and trade experts warned that Trump could put pressure on the UK in effect to pick sides between it and the EU if he presses ahead with threatened trade tariffs as president.
This story is from the December 03, 2024 edition of The Guardian.
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This story is from the December 03, 2024 edition of The Guardian.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.
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