Andy Burnham, the likely next prime minister of the United Kingdom, is facing calls to prioritize closer ties with Europe over strengthening relations with the United States, amid debate over the direction taken by his predecessor, Keir Starmer. Critics argue that Starmer’s approach, which sought a rapproachment with the US under former President Donald Trump, fell short after a pivotal moment last year involving Trump’s confrontation with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky.

A source within the Foreign Office described this episode as the point Britain should have shifted its foreign policy focus from reinforcing the “special relationship” with the US to deepening engagement with Europe. The source suggested that Downing Street missed the opportunity to abandon what they called the “Shinzo Abe strategy” — a policy of cautious support for the US modeled after the late Japanese prime minister’s approach — once Zelensky visited the UK following a public dispute with Trump. Instead, the government is said to have continued backing closer US ties in hopes of securing a significant technology partnership, a prospect reportedly endorsed by Lord Mandelson but that officials now concede never materialized.

The UK is set to host both a G20 and a G7 summit next year, events viewed by some Whitehall officials as critical to reasserting Britain’s global standing. However, these senior officials caution that such diplomatic occasions may limit Burnham’s latitude for independent maneuvering on the international stage, especially as other leaders like Canada’s Mark Carney and Spain’s Pedro Sánchez maintain a more guarded stance toward Trump.

Not all government voices agree on deprioritizing the US relationship. A representative from No 10 warned that reducing the importance of the transatlantic alliance would be “economic suicide,” emphasizing Britain’s reliance on the US for defense and technology. Another official with close White House connections highlighted the US’s role as the UK's security guarantor and noted opportunities for collaboration on energy independence, including nuclear power and expanded North Sea drilling. This source also expressed concern that appointing Ed Miliband as chancellor could deter American investors, citing skepticism reportedly voiced by Trump’s administration.

The Ukraine conflict remains a central rationale for maintaining transatlantic cohesion, with officials warning that any rift between the UK and the US would benefit Russia strategically.

Burnham’s relationship with Trump presents a particular challenge. Trump has dismissed Burnham as “the mayor of a town” and “extremely liberal,” indicating reluctance to engage with him. Historically, Burnham has been an outspoken critic of Trump, opposing his visit to Manchester in 2017, condemning his rhetoric as extremist, and condemning support for Trump following the 2021 US Capitol riots. He has also criticized the overall tone of US politics during Trump’s tenure as divisive.

Nonetheless, Labour politicians have previously forged working relationships with elements of the Republican administration. For example, former Foreign Secretary David Lammy reportedly developed a close rapport with then-Vice President JD Vance despite earlier policy differences with Trump. Some observers familiar with both Trump and British political figures have suggested that, while Burnham’s political views differ sharply from Trump’s, a functional working relationship could be possible — except potentially on issues like the introduction of a digital tax, which is expected to provoke strong opposition from the US.

If Burnham assumes office later this month, he will bring limited foreign policy experience, having spent most of the last decade focused on domestic issues. However, some diplomats point to his business outreach in the Gulf region, where investors reportedly view him as a promising partner, signaling potential avenues for international cooperation.

Ultimately, Burnham’s premiership will test whether his domestic leadership record and regional relationship-building can translate into a nuanced foreign policy capable of balancing pressures from Brussels and Washington.