Yesterday, Boris Johnson cancelled plans for a scheduled spring visit to the White House following a heated telephone exchange with Donald Trump, with issues becoming so contentious it led the US President to hang up the phone on the British Prime Minister.
According to reports, their dispute arose because of two highly contentious issues: Britain’s decision to allow Chinese firm Huawei to play a role in the UK’s 5G network, and the death of British teenager Harry Dunn at the hands of the wife of an American intelligence agent.
The Trump Administration has been waging economic warfare against China, and in particular against telecom giant Huawei, which Washington claims is a real “national security concern,” and insists it is using the new 5G network to secretly spy on western citizens. However, the UK government has decided to proceed forward with its Chinese agreements and allow the firm to supply sections of the UK’s new 5G roll-out.
Boris Johnson most certainly has upset the White House after stating recently that the UK’s extradition agreement with the US is “imbalanced,” citing the recent Harry Dunn case as a prime example. The 19 year-old British teenager was killed in a hit and run incident last year after being struck by Anne Sacoolas, the wife of an US intelligence operative stationed at RAF Croughton base.
IMAGE: Anne Sacoolas and her victim Harry Dunn.
When the collision took place, Sacoolas cooperated with UK police and was breathalysed, but then ignored authorities order to be available for further questioning when she promptly fled to the US after claiming “diplomatic immunity” from questioning or possible prosecution.
According to Britain’s Crown Prosecution Services, Sacoolas has been formally charged with dangerous driving.
Not surprisingly, US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo rejected the UK’s extradition request for Ms Sacoolas.
Downing Street has denied there is any issue between Johnson and Trump, and insists that the PM has canceled his Washington trip in order to focus on getting his domestic agenda passed in the coming months.
Regardless of the pretext, it will still be very interesting to see how both of these two important issues affect the vaunted ‘special relationship’ between the US and UK.
It remains to be seen if either of these are red lines, or what each party may be required of the other as penance.
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