The Independent Uganda: You get the Truth we Pay the Price
– ‘Extraordinary relationship’ –
Tillerson posed for photographs before being shown around the new embassy.
The new building is slightly outside central London in an area south of the River Thames which is being regenerated, unlike its predecessor, which was in a plush quarter in the heart of the British capital.
US ambassador Woody Johnson brushed off Trump’s criticism of the building, telling reporters: “The embassy actually is going to really work.”
When asked whether there would be a ribbon-cutting ceremony, the ambassador added: “At some point we’re going to do it, but there’s no urgency to that. We’ll do it when the time is right.”
Trump has yet to visit Britain since taking office a year ago, and has been involved in rows with the government over issues including trade and his retweeting of a video posted by a British far-right group.
London Mayor Sadiq Khan also said he “would not be welcome” in the city, suggesting there could be widespread protests.
Boris Johnson wrote in The Sunday Telegraph newspaper that Trump should be welcomed to Britain because the country’s ties with the US are vital for security and provide the UK’s “single most extraordinary economic relationship”.
Trump “is the elected president of the world’s most powerful democracy” and resisting his visit to the UK risks “damaging the national interest”, Johnson added.
May is due to meet again with Trump at the World Economic Forum in Davos late this week, but the plans could be thrown into disarray by the US shutdown.
Tillerson’s mini-tour of Europe will continue with a visit to Paris on Tuesday, where he will also be joined by Johnson.
