The next is a transcript of an interview with Karen Pierce, British ambassador to the U.S., on “Face the Nation with Margaret Brennan” that aired on Nov. 10, 2024.
MARGARET BRENNAN: We’re now joined by Dame Karen Pierce, the UK’s ambassador to the USA. Welcome again to Face The Nation.
AMBASSADOR DAME KAREN PIERCE: Thanks very a lot. Margaret, good to be right here.
MARGARET BRENNAN: So Ambassador, after this election, there was a variety of chatter in Europe about Europe needing to behave alone, or at the very least with out as a lot of an American assist mechanism there. The French president stated “Europe must take again management.” Italy’s Prime Minister stated, “Do not ask what the US can do for you, ask what Europe ought to do for itself.” What do you assume Trump’s return will imply for Europe?
DAME KAREN PIERCE: I believe in all my expertise Margaret, when America and Europe work collectively, that is while you get success. That is while you get coherence in coverage. We noticed that within the Balkans. We have seen it at each battle for the reason that Nineteen Nineties. It is nice that Europe desires to do extra. We need to be part of that. We have got a variety of burden sharing happening in Europe on Ukraine, I believe maybe it is not nicely understood in America, if I could say so, fairly how a lot Europe is doing for Ukraine, and we need to discuss that with the incoming administration, in addition to work with the Biden staff to assist Ukraine even additional.
MARGARET BRENNAN: The UK, in fact, has- has supplied an amazing quantity of weaponry and assist to Ukraine.
DAME KAREN PIERCE: That is precisely proper. I believe we’re over $16 billion all-in. We supplied the primary tanks. We supplied the primary anti-tank weapons. We’ve skilled Ukrainian pilots. We will go on supporting Ukraine for so long as they want us.
MARGARET BRENNAN: Will you do this if the USA cuts off monetary and navy help to Ukraine?
DAME KAREN PIERCE: Properly, we clearly hope that does not occur, and we will be desirous to have numerous conversations with the outgoing and incoming administrations on simply how greatest to assist Ukraine. I believe all of us need the identical factor. We would like a steady, safe, peaceable, Euro-Atlantic space. And if Putin is allowed to reach Ukraine, that threatens all of us, together with the US, and it actually emboldens China, and I do not assume anybody within the US desires to see that.
MARGARET BRENNAN: So on Friday, Hungary’s Prime Minister Viktor Orban, who’s a problematic NATO ally. He is pals with Vladimir Putin and Donald Trump, he stated “The scenario on the entrance is apparent. There’s been a navy defeat. The People are going to tug out of this battle.” He is speaking about Ukraine. Do you assume Mr. Trump is persuadable on this challenge?
DAME KAREN PIERCE: Properly, I do not assume it is for any single European chief to say what President Trump would possibly do. I believe we have to hear from President Trump after inauguration on what the brand new administration’s plans are. However actually I do know they share our aim of desirous to have safety and stability, and we’ll be speaking to them and the outgoing Biden administration to see how greatest we are able to assist Ukraine.
MARGARET BRENNAN: Mr. Orban does communicate with Donald Trump, however you do not get the sense that he’s reflecting–
DAME KAREN PIERCE: — We communicate to Donald Trump, the Prime Minister spoke to him very lately, on the Wednesday after- the day after the election. In my expertise, President Trump is his personal individual. He’ll hearken to a variety of recommendation, a few of it solicited, a few of it unsolicited, and he’ll weigh the professionals and cons, and he’ll come to his personal resolution. However I’ve all the time discovered him and his staff very keen to hearken to our viewpoint.
MARGARET BRENNAN: So on the commerce entrance, there’s additionally concern in Europe, as I perceive it, about what could also be coming with tariffs. The Trump marketing campaign has proposed a ten% throughout the board tariff on Europe. Goldman Sachs tasks it is going to be maybe a little bit bit extra restricted and targeted on auto exports. Do you may have a way that the UK could possibly keep away from this type of monetary penalty, primarily?
DAME KAREN PIERCE: We might very a lot hope so. As- because the UK, you understand, we have got free commerce in our DNA, because it have been. We do not consider in tariffs as an instrument of commerce. We’ve a barely totally different method from many American commerce specialists on that. And I believe the very last thing the world wants in the intervening time is a tariff battle. That does not assist anyone. Commerce and investments are massively essential a part of what we do with America, one thing like a trillion {dollars} goes backwards and forwards throughout the Atlantic in commerce and funding annually. Let’s not put that in danger. Let’s try to learn how we are able to work collectively to extend funding and commerce. And there is additionally the actually essential challenge of financial safety that is now come onto the agenda, and we’ll be wanting to speak to the incoming administration about that additionally.
MARGARET BRENNAN: So that you served right here in Washington through the first Trump administration. You realize many of those gamers. The present UK Authorities is a unique one, in fact, from that time frame with the Labor Occasion in cost. I’ve to ask you about that direct relationship, as a result of the highest diplomat, Overseas Secretary David Lammy, years in the past, and you understand this quote, wrote “Trump will not be solely a girl hating neo-Nazi sympathizing sociopath, he is a profound menace to the worldwide order.” Are you involved that these previous statements and the ideological variations might be an issue in what has been a particular relationship?
DAME KAREN PIERCE: I do not assume the previous statements might be an issue, to be completely trustworthy, Margaret. Politicians say a variety of issues on either side. And even in America, some people who find themselves now within the Trump administration, or might be within the Trump administration, just like the Vice President-Elect, have additionally stated important issues about President Trump. In my expertise, politicians type of take in these kinds of feedback as a part of the damage and tear of political life. What’s essential is the connection now. David Lammy, the international secretary, the Prime Minister Keir Starmer, had a really heat dinner with President Trump in September. He very graciously invited them to his personal residence in Trump Tower. We mentioned an enormous vary of points. You are proper that they arrive from totally different political philosophies. I would not name them ideological. I do not assume Keir Starmer is ideological, and I do not assume President Trump is. It is about discovering out how we are able to work collectively. What they do have in widespread is that this need to get the economies transferring, to get progress for the extraordinary citizen, to ensure issues are higher for the extraordinary citizen. And we had an excellent dialog about that with President Trump in September.
MARGARET BRENNAN: One of many UK politicians who was at Mar-a-Lago and celebrating on election evening was Nigel Farage. He is recognized for his anti-immigrant stance. There was, not simply within the US, but in addition in Europe, all over the world, this backlash in opposition to immigrants and migration, and that has actually impacted a variety of politics right here. I am questioning what your ideas are, extra broadly, about what sort of political drive and issue that’s on this planet we’re in now? It is a massive query, nevertheless it does look like there’s one thing international taking place.
DAME KAREN PIERCE: I would agree with you, Margaret, there’s one thing crucial for lots of electorates ‘around the world in regards to the topic of immigration. However I do not need to give the impression that within the west or within the UK we aren’t beneficiant to folks in want. We took a variety of Syrians, a variety of Afghans, a variety of Ukrainians. Financial migration is the factor we’re all very nervous about. And though the issue manifests itself otherwise within the UK from within the US, I believe you are proper. It’s one thing that voters care about. It’s one thing that the British Authorities is dedicated to tackling. The Prime Minister may be very taken with the way you act in opposition to the legal gangs who foster this type of migration, and truly are those exploiting individuals who come throughout in small boats or no matter conveyance they use. It is about stopping the gangs and stopping the traffickers, and we’ll want a variety of worldwide coordination to make that occur.
MARGARET BRENNAN: Ambassador Pierce, thanks in your time as we speak.
DAME KAREN PIERCE: Thanks very a lot.
MARGARET BRENNAN: We’ll be proper again.
