Colby served as deputy assistant secretary of defense under Trump for strategy and force development from 2017-18 and is being discussed for a senior role in the event of a Republican victory in the US election in November. He currently runs the Marathon Initiative, a foreign policy think tank that is influential within the Republican Party and in Trump’s inner circle.
He is also a prominent critic of the latest package of US military aid to Ukraine, which was passed by Congress last month with the strong support of the UK government. Cameron made a private visit to Congress and visited with Trump at his Mar-a-Lago resort before the vote to urge Republicans to support the package.
Colby told Power Play host Anne McElvoy that Cameron’s trips to Washington, D.C., to urge Congress to pass $61 billion in aid were tantamount to “stunning interference in the American system… I mean, foreign interference.” To talk about.
The UK Government and the Embassy in Washington have invested heavily in the Foreign Secretary’s personal advocacy and contacts to strengthen support in Congress for Ukraine. This did not cause any disagreement with Colby, which reflected irritation in some Republican circles over the strategy – despite Cameron’s meeting with Trump.
“After being responsible for dismantling the British military in the early 2010s and China’s ‘panda embrace’, Cameron took every opportunity to come round to Americans and moralize them. So for a guy like that to come and lecture us is really the height of audacity,” Colby added.
Encouraging words for David Lammy
However, the Foreign Secretary had encouraging words for the opposite number. “Lammy is taking a more coherent approach to what people like me are talking about, which is increased defence, a greater UK focus on Europe. I would prefer a lot less talking and ranting and more presentation,” Colby said.