Deep Dish Live: David Lammy on Britain's 'Special Relationship' With Trump

About This Episode

In a live Deep Dish conversation, former UK Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Secretary David Lammy joins host Leslie Vinjamuri to discuss Britain's “less predictable” relationship with the United States under President Trump, efforts to rebuild ties with Europe after Brexit, and the difficult trade-offs between defense spending and domestic priorities.

Key Takeaways

• David Lammy led a push for the United Kingdom to reconnect with the global community following its exit from the European Union. He believes there was a perception that the UK had abandoned its duties engaging with the international order, specifically the Global South.
• Lammy made "progressive realism" central to the UK's foreign policy, focusing on pragmatism when creating new trading relationships like one with China.
• A new paradigm is occurring in multilateral partnerships where "middle power" countries are convening and cooperating with each other without the United States or China being involved.
• Lammy views the relationship between the United States and United Kingdom as invaluable considering the deep economic, military, and intelligence dependance they have on one another.
• Lammy sees the current geopolitical situation as "deeply unpredictable" and says Russia, Iran, and China encouraging destabilization in Western democracies.
• AI requires state intervention and regulation. Lammy likens this development to the creation of the nuclear bomb where rules and oversight by an international committee are required.