UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer is set to appoint a new US ambassador after conducting interviews with three candidates. The process comes at a critical juncture in UK-US relations, which are strained due to disagreements over Ukraine and the Trump administration's national security strategy.
Starmer has been navigating a delicate balance with former President Donald Trump, with whom he had cultivated a personal relationship despite significant policy differences. However, their rapport is being tested by Trump's increasingly hawkish stance on Ukraine, including his push for Kyiv to cede territory in exchange for a speedy end to the conflict.
The UK government has been urging caution, with some officials preferring a career diplomat over a political appointee like Chandra, who is seen as the frontrunner. However, others believe that Starmer may opt for someone else if he's not satisfied with any of the three candidates on the shortlist.
Varun Chandra, who has played a key role in negotiating bilateral deals between the UK and US, is widely regarded as the top contender for the ambassadorship. Christian Turner, a diplomat set to become the next UN ambassador, and Nigel Casey, the current British ambassador to Russia, are also in the running.
The appointment comes after the resignation of Peter Mandelson, who was sacked over his ties to financier Jeffrey Epstein. Documents and emails revealed that Mandelson had expressed admiration for Epstein and urged him to fight for early release.
Starmer has maintained a low profile on the Trump administration's national security strategy, which critics say is overly critical of Europe and hails the rise of "patriotic European parties." However, senior British MPs have roundly condemned the document, with some accusing it of promoting "civilisational erasure" for European countries.
Crisis talks between European leaders are set to take place in Berlin this week, where they will discuss a US-brokered peace proposal that is being seen as too favorable to Moscow. The UK government's stance on the issue remains unclear, but insiders say relations with the US are more strained than ever.
Starmer has been navigating a delicate balance with former President Donald Trump, with whom he had cultivated a personal relationship despite significant policy differences. However, their rapport is being tested by Trump's increasingly hawkish stance on Ukraine, including his push for Kyiv to cede territory in exchange for a speedy end to the conflict.
The UK government has been urging caution, with some officials preferring a career diplomat over a political appointee like Chandra, who is seen as the frontrunner. However, others believe that Starmer may opt for someone else if he's not satisfied with any of the three candidates on the shortlist.
Varun Chandra, who has played a key role in negotiating bilateral deals between the UK and US, is widely regarded as the top contender for the ambassadorship. Christian Turner, a diplomat set to become the next UN ambassador, and Nigel Casey, the current British ambassador to Russia, are also in the running.
The appointment comes after the resignation of Peter Mandelson, who was sacked over his ties to financier Jeffrey Epstein. Documents and emails revealed that Mandelson had expressed admiration for Epstein and urged him to fight for early release.
Starmer has maintained a low profile on the Trump administration's national security strategy, which critics say is overly critical of Europe and hails the rise of "patriotic European parties." However, senior British MPs have roundly condemned the document, with some accusing it of promoting "civilisational erasure" for European countries.
Crisis talks between European leaders are set to take place in Berlin this week, where they will discuss a US-brokered peace proposal that is being seen as too favorable to Moscow. The UK government's stance on the issue remains unclear, but insiders say relations with the US are more strained than ever.
! I mean, can't they just get along? The UK and US have been friends for ages, but now it's all about who's right and wrong on the Ukraine front 
. And what's with Trump being super hawkish on this whole thing? Like, dude, you're not exactly known for your diplomatic skills 
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. But honestly, whoever Starmer chooses is gonna have some big shoes to fill 
. The UK-US relationship is so crucial, and if they don't get it together, it could be a major crisis 
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! Peter Mandelson's ties to that guy are just wild 
. I mean, what even was he thinking? The whole thing just reeks of cronyism and poor judgment 
.
. Let's hope whoever gets appointed ambassador can help smooth things over 
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and then there's this whole epstein thing... mandelson was really close to him and now hes out of a job. it just feels like the uk is trying to stay neutral on everything right now. i hope starmer makes the right choice tho 
gotta be careful not to rock the boat on ukraine front 
meanwhile trump is like "peace in our time" but everyone knows hes hiding something 
and mandelsons resignation was a major blow 
cant wait to see varun chandra step up or whoever else gets the nod 
. I guess what I'm sayin' is, let's hope for some kind of miracle and we can all just get along 
and yeah varun chandra is def in the running 
it's like, can u imagine having someone who's pro ukranian rights as ambassador 
anywayz crisis talks are coming up in berlin this wknd and we gotta see how the uk gov handles that 
. I mean, I get that Starmer wants a strong ally in the US but at what cost? It feels like politics is getting in the way of diplomacy again 
- has he got the right mix of experience and diplomatic skills for the job? 
Can't say I'm loving the whole "patriotic European parties" vibe either - sounds like a recipe for disaster to me.
but now they're at each other's throats over ukraine... and it's not just about politics, it's about national security too 
. I mean, we're in a super delicate spot with Ukraine and all that. We need someone who can navigate those waters smoothly, not add to the drama 
You think Chandra is just because he played a key role in negotiating bilateral deals? That's not enough, there are other factors at play too. Have you seen his whole background? He was involved in those shady dealings with Epstein and now the UK government is kicking him out over it. It's not like Starmer is just looking for anyone who can close deals, he needs someone trustworthy.
Do we really want someone who's more of an enabler than a game-changer for UK-US relations? 
. The US has got some serious issues on its plate right now, and we can't just rely on our friends across the pond to fix everything 
Chandra's got experience on his side, but will he be able to deal with Trump's ego trip? 
can you believe starmer has gotta navigate this super sensitive situation between him and trump? like, their friendship was nice and all, but it's clear that trumps hawkish views are putting a strain on things 
. fingers crossed he doesn't get sacked because of his past connections to epstein lol
The Ukraine situation is already super volatile, I don't think we need any more variables thrown into the mix 
. With tensions between the US and Europe running high, we need someone who can navigate those complex relationships smoothly 
. Chandra seems like a great choice right now 
. The current state of UK-US relations is pretty tense, what with Ukraine and all 