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Mike Pompeo flies to UK for talks amid US Huawei concern Huawei: Pompeo urges UK to 'relook' at decision ahead of UK visit
(about 7 hours later)
US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo is flying to the UK for talks after the government decided to allow Huawei to have a role in the UK's 5G network. US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo has urged the UK to reconsider allowing Huawei to have a role in its 5G system, ahead of talks with Boris Johnson.
Mr Pompeo previously said the Chinese firm's equipment posed a spying risk, adding the US "won't be able to share information" with nations that used it. He told reporters the UK had a chance to "relook" at the decision, stressing the US needed to be sure its allies had "trusted" information networks.
But Culture Secretary Baroness Morgan said the decision "in no way affects the ability for the UK to share classified data" with its partners. The US believes the Chinese firm's equipment poses a spying risk.
Mr Pompeo will also meet Boris Johnson. But Culture Secretary Baroness Morgan said it "in no way" affects the ability of the UK to share classified data.
The US State Department said Mr Pompeo's visit was an opportunity to "reaffirm the special relationship following the UK's departure from the EU and discuss ways to broaden and deepen trade ties". As well as meeting the prime minister, Mr Pompeo will hold talks with his UK counterpart, Dominic Raab, on a range of controversial issues.
But the case of Harry Dunn is also expected to be discussed with the PM and Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab, after Washington refused the UK's request for the extradition of Anne Sacoolas - an American diplomat's wife suspected of causing his death by dangerous driving. The case of Harry Dunn is expected to be discussed, after Washington refused the UK's request for the extradition of Anne Sacoolas - an American diplomat's wife suspected of causing his death by dangerous driving.
After his visit, Mr Pompeo will fly to Ukraine on Thursday. The US had repeatedly warned that giving Huawei a role in 5G could allow the Chinese government a "back door" into the telecoms network through which they could carry out espionage or cyber attacks.
Ahead of Tuesday's National Security Council decision on Huawei, the US had warned that giving the firm a role in 5G could allow the Chinese government a "back door" into the telecoms network through which they could carry out espionage or cyber attacks. Ahead of his arrival in London, Mr Pompeo told reporters the US wanted to "work with" the UK following the National Security Council's decision to give Huawei a roll in spite of those warnings.
But the UK said the firm will be barred from sensitive locations, such as nuclear sites and military bases and its share of the market will be capped at 35%. "We were urging them (the UK) to make a decision that was different than the one they made and we'll have a conversation about how to proceed," he said.
"There is also a chance for the UK to relook at this as implementation moves forward, and then it's important for everyone to know there is also real work being done by lots of private companies inside the US and in Europe to make sure that there are true competitors to Huawei."
He added: "We will make sure that when American information passes across a network we are confident that that network is a trusted one."
'No compromise'
The UK has insisted the firm will be barred from sensitive locations, such as nuclear sites and military bases and its share of the market will be capped at 35%.
Baroness Morgan also told BBC Breakfast the UK had expertise is mitigating risks when using Huawei's technology, as it was already part of existing 4G networks - unlike in the US.Baroness Morgan also told BBC Breakfast the UK had expertise is mitigating risks when using Huawei's technology, as it was already part of existing 4G networks - unlike in the US.
She said: "We want to see the roll-out of 5G...for the growth of our economy and productivity, but in making this decision, we have been very clear we will not compromise on national security. She said: "We want to see the roll-out of 5G... for the growth of our economy and productivity, but in making this decision, we have been very clear we will not compromise on national security.
"We obviously had a number of conversations with the US [who] have made their views clear. But we have got that expertise, we have had that oversight of Huawei...which gives our agencies the ability to give the assurance that having them involved in the periphery of the network does not present the security challenge I think others have worried about." "We obviously had a number of conversations with the US [who] have made their views clear. But we have got that expertise, we have had that oversight of Huawei... which gives our agencies the ability to give the assurance that having them involved in the periphery of the network does not present the security challenge I think others have worried about."
Following the announcement, Mr Johnson spoke to President Donald Trump to explain the decision and try to allay US concerns.
A Trump administration official said the US was "disappointed" with the decision.
Mr Pompeo urged the UK to prioritise its own and its allies security interests when dealing with Huawei during his last visit to the UK in May.
The UK's decision also faced a criticism from some senior Conservative MPs after Mr Raab made a statement about it in the Commons.The UK's decision also faced a criticism from some senior Conservative MPs after Mr Raab made a statement about it in the Commons.
Tom Tugendhat, former chair of the Foreign Affairs Select Committee, tweeted that the government's "statement leaves many concerns and does not close the UK's networks to a frequently malign international actor".Tom Tugendhat, former chair of the Foreign Affairs Select Committee, tweeted that the government's "statement leaves many concerns and does not close the UK's networks to a frequently malign international actor".
But Defence Secretary Ben Wallace downplayed such concerns, telling the BBC the UK should not be "paranoid" that the decision would lead to "Big Brother from China watching us".But Defence Secretary Ben Wallace downplayed such concerns, telling the BBC the UK should not be "paranoid" that the decision would lead to "Big Brother from China watching us".
Asked about how the US might react Mr Wallace said: "I don't know how they'll react...they've made their concerns clear. Asked about how the US might react Mr Wallace said: "I don't know how they'll react... they've made their concerns clear.
"We understand that - we respect that, we've given them lots of assurances that the intelligence they share and how they share it.""We understand that - we respect that, we've given them lots of assurances that the intelligence they share and how they share it."
'Pervasive espionage' claim'Pervasive espionage' claim
A series of US congressional figures called on the UK to reconsider, saying the decision could be an obstacle to a post-Brexit trade deal between the US and UK, as well as raising questions over security co-operation.A series of US congressional figures called on the UK to reconsider, saying the decision could be an obstacle to a post-Brexit trade deal between the US and UK, as well as raising questions over security co-operation.
Senator Tom Cotton, a Republican member of the Senate intelligence committee, called for a "thorough review" of intelligence sharing with the UK.Senator Tom Cotton, a Republican member of the Senate intelligence committee, called for a "thorough review" of intelligence sharing with the UK.
"I fear London has freed itself from Brussels only to cede sovereignty to Beijing," he said."I fear London has freed itself from Brussels only to cede sovereignty to Beijing," he said.
The decision gave China a foothold to carry out "pervasive espionage" on the UK and gave it "increased economic and political leverage", he said.The decision gave China a foothold to carry out "pervasive espionage" on the UK and gave it "increased economic and political leverage", he said.
Senator Lindsey Graham, a Republican who is one of the president's most committed defenders, said he was "very concerned" and urged the UK to think again.Senator Lindsey Graham, a Republican who is one of the president's most committed defenders, said he was "very concerned" and urged the UK to think again.
"This decision has the potential to jeopardise US-UK intelligence sharing agreements and could greatly complicate a US-UK free trade agreement," he tweeted."This decision has the potential to jeopardise US-UK intelligence sharing agreements and could greatly complicate a US-UK free trade agreement," he tweeted.