What’s in the in-tray for the new UK and US Ambassadors to DC and London in 2026 and beyond?
2026 will be another challenging year for the UK domestically and on the world stage. In his Mansion House address in December, the Prime Minister, Keir Starmer, said that the defining challenge for the rest of this century will be how we navigate the dynamic between the “three global giants” in the world today – the United States, the European Union and China.
On the EU, we know that Starmer’s intention is to rebuild closer ties and seek to mend some of the fences damaged by Brexit. Rejoining the Erasmus scheme was a fresh indicator of the direction of travel. Some prominent figures in the Labour Party are now openly discussing re-joining the Customs Union, even though that officially remains off the table for now. That will be a key debate to watch this year.
On China, Starmer’s Mansion House remarks were illuminating. He said that the UK has gone from “Golden Age” to “Ice Age” in its relations with China in recent years, describing the lack of engagement as “staggering” and a “dereliction of duty”. While clear-eyed about the real national security threats posed, Starmer is clearly of the view that a balanced relationship must be sought which reflects the critical importance of the world’s second largest economy.
And then, looming over it all, is the US. Managing the Trump relationship has been one of Starmer’s successes as Prime Minister on the world stage. He has thus far managed to maintain a strong bilateral relationship with President Trump, but has also stood firmly behind President Zelensky of Ukraine and with his counterparts in the European Union. The conclusion of the Economic Prosperity Deal last year was a feather in the cap for the Government, but it is clear that real challenges still lie ahead. The United States’ unilateral “snatch-and-grab” operation of Nicolas Maduro, Venezuela’s head of State, over the first weekend of 2026, and Trump’s plans to “run” Venezuela for the foreseeable future without a definite plan, domestic consultation or international participation, is another vivid example of the changing world order.
The appointment of a new Ambassador to the US is therefore a critical appointment for Starmer, especially given the acrimony that surrounded the departure of Lord Mandelson from the role. In turning to Sir Christian Turner – freshly knighted in the New Year Honours list – the Prime Minister has picked a solid and seasoned diplomat for the job.
Sir Christian is an experienced leader, having already served as High Commissioner (de facto Ambassador) to two Commonwealth Countries, Kenya and Pakistan. My former colleagues at the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office who have worked with Sir Christian overseas describe him as widely respected amongst external stakeholders, popular on social and traditional media and well-liked by the team he led in the UK missions. As a former Ambassador myself, I know the importance of all three.
Most recently serving as the FCDO’s Political Director, Sir Christian was originally announced as the UK’s Permanent Representative to the United Nations. The fact that the Prime Minister and Foreign Secretary are prepared to backfill that vital role to instead place Sir Christian in Washington shows the importance to the UK of the US relationship. Appointing an apolitical career diplomat, who has not explicitly criticised Trump or US Foreign Policy goes some way to resolve the controversy around his predecessor, Lord Mandelson.
Importantly, Sir Christian has a deep understanding of the machinery of government, having served in Number 10 as a Private Secretary, and in a cross-Whitehall strategy team. His recent role as Political Director reflects his breadth of experience in multilateral work, security and policy.
Where he is less experienced is in direct trade or commercial roles. However, he will benefit from working closely with His Majesty’s Trade Commissioner to North America, Oliver Christian, who we know well at H/Advisors, and a team of hundreds of experts working across the UK’s diplomatic network in the United States, reporting to both Sir Christian and to the Department for Business and Trade.
The other major challenge which will be new to Sir Christian is navigating the politics of “Trumpland” and the “MAGA” movement. As a non-political appointee, quickly gelling with the key personalities around Trump will be a critical part of a successful Ambassadorship.
It may be helpful that his US counterpart, the new US Ambassador to the UK, Warren A. Stephens, will also begin his role at the same time. Stephens is a political appointee and a self-made billionaire, with a background in the finance sector. Both Ambassadors will have a shared interest in deepening the UK-US political relationship, overcoming differences (e.g. on NATO, Ukraine, Venezuela, Tariffs, climate change and DEI policies) and building on areas of alignment (e.g. prosperity, trade, investment and security).
Our H/Advisors team will be following developments closely in the UK’s relationships with all three “global giants” this year. If you’d like to discuss how we can help you better understand the dynamics in the US, EU and beyond, please do get in touch.