British Prime Minister Boris Johnson and U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo addressed the significance of cooperation with "5 Eye countries on the technologies of the future" – referring to the alliance of Canada, Australia, and New Zealand with the United States and UK – a government statement disclosed on Tuesday.
The meeting on Downing Street had the UK leader and Pompeo tackle global security and foreign policy issues, including China's actions in Hong Kong, the situation in Iran, and the Middle East Peace Process, the Anadolu Agency reported.
The last visit to London by the top U.S. diplomat in January came just days after Johnson defied Washington's warnings and allowed Chinese tech giant Huawei to help launch Britain's 5G infrastructure.
It was a frigid affair that saw Pompeo accuse Britain of endangering Western intelligence-sharing by putting China at the core of its data network.
The partnership between Britain and China then blossomed as Johnson found lucrative partners who could fill the vacuum created by the EU's January exit from the European Union.
On top of Pompeo's trip agenda in London includes meeting Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab to address global priorities including the global health crisis, plans for economic recovery, and the U.S.-Britain trade deal negotiations.
Pompeo will then proceed to Denmark to meet with Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen in Copenhagen to discuss issues including China and the pandemic, in addition to meeting his Danish counterpart, Foreign Affairs Minister Jeppe Kofod.
Pompeo praised Johnson for ordering a purge of Huawei equipment from its 5G mobile phone network, claiming it was the right decision as information could have ended up in the hands of the Chinese government.
Beijing claims the West – and Washington in particular – is affected by anti-Chinese irrationality and colonial frame of mind regarding the communist state.
China, whose $15-trillion economy is five times bigger than that of the UK's, said the decision to remove Huawei -- the largest telecoms equipment maker in the world -- will discourage investment in Britain.
As Britain toughens its position on China because of its management of the coronavirus and new security legislation in the former British colony of Hong Kong, Pompeo's visit is also an attempt to solidify Johnson's commitment and dangle the potential reward of a post-Brexit free trade deal, experts said.
London has been conducting talks with Washington for a post-Brexit trade agreement with the country to maximize its trade, poised to face new challenges on Dec. 31, the final day for the transition period with the EU.
