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A10 WORLD NEWS
Monday 23 January 2017

British leader to meet with Trump to discuss trade, NATO

GREGORY KATZ
Associated Press
LONDON (AP) — British
Prime Minister Theresa May
said Sunday she plans to
discuss free trade and the
importance of the NATO
military alliance when she
becomes the first foreign
leader to meet with U.S.
President Donald Trump in
Washington.
The White House’s invita-
tion for May to meet with
Trump on Friday was seen
in Britain as affirmation that
Trump values the vaunted
“special relationship” be-
tween the United States
and its longtime ally across
the Atlantic.
She told BBC’s Andrew
Marr that the Trump team
is interested in discussing
a new trade arrangement
with Britain despite the
“America first” theme of
Trump’s inaugural address
and his vow to evaluate
every trade deal for its pos-
sible benefits to the United Britain’s Prime Minister Theresa May delivers a speech on leaving the European Union at Lancaster House in London, Tuesday, Jan.
States. Any national leader 17, 2017.
would do the same when Associated Press
deciding whether to sign a
trade pact, May said. She called it the “bulwark” leaders worry about a wa- his that surfaced during the be made about the role
Britain sees a future trade of Europe’s defense sys- tering down of the NATO presidential campaign. of women is the fact that
agreement with the Unit- tem. role given the increasingly But she said she would I will be there as a female
ed States as vital as the Trump has rattled European aggressive actions by Rus- speak out if she finds his fu- prime minister, prime minis-
country prepares to leave allies by suggesting NATO sia in recent years. ture behavior or comments ter of the United Kingdom,
the European Union. How- is “obsolete” and that the The prime minister didn’t “unacceptable.” May said directly taking to him about
ever, Britain’s desire for in- United States might not directly answer questions she has a long track record the interests that we share,”
creased trade could clash come to the aid of coun- about whether she will use promoting equal rights for she said.
with Trump’s protection- tries that don’t meet tar- Friday’s meeting to chal- women, adding that she is British officials say May
ist stance. May said she gets for their own defense lenge Trump over deroga- proud to be Britain’s sec- will also speak to Repub-
would also raise the value spending. May maintained tory comments he has ond female prime minister. lican senators and repre-
of the NATO military alli- that Trump understands made about women. May “When I sit down, I think the sentatives at a retreat in
ance during the meeting. NATO’s vital role. European criticized crude remarks of biggest statement that will Philadelphia.q