Rishi Sunak Travels to Washington to Demonstrate UK’s Importance on the World Stage
UK Chancellor Rishi Sunak is traveling to Washington for a two-day trip to demonstrate that the country remains significant on the global stage despite political and economic upheaval resulting from Brexit. His agenda includes meeting with US President Joe Biden to make a case for UK’s key role in global security and its ability to lead in developing a regulatory framework for artificial intelligence (AI). Furthermore, Sunak will discuss the issue of finding NATO’s next secretary general with Biden, where he has thrown support behind Ben Wallace, the UK’s defense secretary. Despite the UK’s ambitious agenda, the US and the EU have already started bilateral discussions on regulating AI, and sections of the UK political opposition have already downplayed the UK’s relevance in Washington.
Ukraine and the UK’s Special Relationship
Despite a rocky start, Sunak’s relationship with Biden has improved since their first meeting; during which, the US president seemed flummoxed by the political turmoil in the UK. With his visit being the fifth since becoming prime minister, their relationship has heated up due to Ukraine bringing the UK and Idaho closer together. The US values its allies, and the UK remains one of our strongest and closest, says Amanda Sloat, senior director for Europe at the National Security Council during Biden’s recent visit to Northern Ireland. Nevertheless, Sunak’s meeting with Biden comes at a time of political uncertainties in NATO as Jens Stoltenberg, the incumbent from Norway, steps down at the end of September.
Wallace’s Bid for NATO Secretary General
Although Wallace is widely respected among his colleagues around the world, particularly for the role he played in Ukraine, being NATO’s next secretary general requires more than international admiration. Succeeding Stoltenberg at next month’s summit in Vilnius requires the approval of both Biden and Paris, who have not indicated any support for Wallace. On the other hand, the ideal candidate now is either a female or come from Eastern Europe, considering it has been northern European men for decades. It appears that Wallace’s principal competition for the position are the Danish Prime Minister, Mette Frederiksen, and Canadian Deputy Prime Minister, Chrystia Freeland. However, these countries traditionally fall far short of reaching a minimum goal of spending two percent of their national output on defense, which is a significant issue among NATO members.
The UK’s Effort in AI Regulation
Sunak’s meeting with Biden will focus on security in its widest sense and AI regulation, where he plans to convince Biden that the UK can play a leadership role in setting a framework for the sector. Although the UK already has a unique approach to AI regulation that some call ‘agile,’ Sunak’s challenge is to convince the US that its post-Brexit regulation approach is sound. This contention comes after both the US and the EU started discussing a voluntary code of conduct for AI. The partisan divisions in the UK’s political arena do not help matters with the opposition labor party already criticizing the government’s approach to regulation.
Engaging Piece: the UK’s Innovation in AI regulation
AI regulations play a crucial role in the security and stability of global markets, and it is clear that “we are not quite there yet.” This conference attempts to explore what AI regulations currently exist, which companies they affect, and where regulations might be headed. According to the Centre for Data Ethics and Innovation (CDEI), there is a significant need for AI regulations to ensure that innovation and responsible data use go hand in hand.
However, regulation alone is not enough without AI innovation. Great Britain, already in a unique position, can build on its position by leading in creating an innovative AI industry while satisfying policy demands, providing lessons for other sectors. The United States is a shining example of how innovation and policy can go hand in hand. The US has promoted the growth of certain AI sectors by investing in research and government contracts, restricting or permitting certain cross-border investments, and promoting partnerships between the private and public sectors.
Therefore, the UK needs specific strategies to promote innovation in AI regulation. The UK’s position as a leader in AI governance can influence global standards for AI innovation, reflecting the public interest while reflecting the needs of industry. Such an approach requires promoting collaboration between industry, citizens, and policymakers and aligning these stakeholders’ interests at the domestic and international level.
In summary, Rishi Sunak is heading to Washington to demonstrate that the UK remains an influential global player, supporting NATO’s next secretary-general, defending AI regulation, and discussing green subsidies. While the UK’s effort to lead in the regulation of technologies must balance innovation and regulation, the country’s unique position on the forefront of AI regulation presents opportunities, such as influencing global standards for governance.
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Rishi Sunak flies to Washington on Tuesday for a two-day mission to demonstrate that Britain remains a major player on the world stage following the recent political and economic upheavals in the UK.
The British premier will meet Joe Biden, hoping to convince the US president that Britain has a key role to play in global security and forge a regulatory framework for artificial intelligence.
But the EU and the US, the two big power blocs in the West, are already discussing ways to regulate AI, and UK Labor’s opposition says Britain has become less relevant in Washington.
Biden and Sunak had a rocky start to their relationship – exacerbated by Brexit and its impact on Northern Ireland – with the US president seemingly flummoxed last year by the political turmoil in the UK.
Biden hailed “Rashid Sanook” as the third British prime minister in a year last October, and said he had to trip to Belfast in April to make sure “the British didn’t go wrong” with the Northern Ireland peace process.
But the meeting in Washington will be the fifth since Sunak became prime minister, and diplomats say relations have heated up, with Ukraine bringing its two old allies closer together.
“The UK remains one of our strongest and closest allies,” said Amanda Sloat, senior director for Europe at the National Security Council, during Biden’s recent visit to Northern Ireland. “It’s hard, frankly, to think of an issue in the world that we’re not collaborating closely with the British on.”
Sunak wants his meeting with Biden to focus on security in its broadest sense and on Monday he reiterated his case for Ben Wallace, the UK’s defense secretary, to become the next NATO secretary general.
The prime minister described Wallace as “widely respected among his colleagues around the world, particularly for the role he played in Ukraine”, and said Britain was a major contributor to the alliance.
Jens Stoltenberg, the Norwegian incumbent, is expected to step down at the end of September with a replacement to be chosen at next month’s NATO leaders’ summit in Vilnius.
But with just five weeks to go, there’s no clarity on who that might be — so far Biden hasn’t named a preferred candidate. Most NATO officials say the allies would prefer a female candidate or one from Eastern Europe, after decades of northern European men.
Wallace would need to enlist the support of both Biden and Paris, who is seen as lukewarm towards Britain’s first post-Brexit secretary general.
However, the prominent women ready for the role – Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen and Canadian Deputy Prime Minister Chrystia Freeland – come from countries that traditionally fall far short of spending 2% of national output on defence, a minimum goal of the Born.
Sunak will raise the issue of AI regulation as another key security concern, arguing that the UK can play a ‘leadership’ role in setting a framework for the sector.
However, the US and EU are already discussing a voluntary code of conduct for AI and the issue is a test of whether Sunak can demonstrate that Brexit has enabled Britain to adopt an “agile” and innovative approach to the regulation of new technologies.
Rachel Reeves, Britain’s shadow chancellor, said in a visit to Washington last month that Sunak’s government had made itself less relevant by criticizing how “protectionist” Biden’s $369 billion green subsidy plan, the Inflation Reduction Act.
Sunak’s allies say the prime minister is likely to take a more emollient tone on the issue of green subsidies.
Kemi Badenoch, the UK’s commerce secretary, has urged Washington to ensure that UK-based companies operating in US supply chains are eligible for the subsidies. Other Western allies are making similar demands.
In March United States and Japan signed an agreement on supply chains of critical minerals, with Tokyo expecting to get IRA tax benefits for battery components and critical raw materials used in electric vehicles.
Lord Kim Darroch, former UK ambassador to Washington, said Sunak will arrive with heavy political baggage that has complicated the team’s relationship with the Atlantic.
“I’ve never met a Democrat who thought Brexit was a good idea,” said Darroch. “They hated Brexit because they felt it went against the trends of world history and cost them their main channel in the EU.”
But he added: “A saving grace it was Ukraine. Whatever else they thought of Boris Johnson – and sometimes they thought he was making a show – they thought we were giving more than the rest of Europe to Ukraine. This has restored some credibility in Washington.”
White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre on Friday said Biden hopes to deepen “the close and historic relationship and partnership” between the United Kingdom and the United States.
Biden is expected to return to the UK for a state visit after accepting an invitation in April from King Charles III.
https://www.ft.com/content/7c3382ea-d9a9-4a27-90db-449a4d332d80
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