Theresa May will be among the first European leaders to hold talks with Donald Trump in America, it emerged today.
The Prime Minister hopes to visit Washington early next year in a sign that she intends to use his election to increase British influence.
The date of her visit has not yet been revealed but it is likely to be within weeks of Mr Trump being sworn into office on January 20.
Mrs May will seek to hold the new President to his promise that Britain will be first in line with a trade deal after Brexit.
And the Prime Minister is keen to strengthen the Nato alliance after complaints from Mr Trump that some European allies are not pulling their weight.
Former Tory leader Iain Duncan Smith praised Mrs May for giving “straightforward congratulations [to Mr Trump], instead of carping or nuancing that welcome like some other leaders” — a clear swipe at German Chancellor Angela Merkel, who offered close co-operation but on the basis of respect for minorities.
Mr Duncan Smith, who has ties with US Republicans, said that despite British courting of President Barack Obama, the result “wasn’t very special and not much of a relationship”.
“After all, for the last eight years President Obama made it abundantly clear that he did not consider the UK as any more important in his international relations than any other country, particularly Germany and the EU itself,” said the former work and pensions secretary, writing on Conservative Home.
“The so called ‘special relationship’ wasn’t very special and not much of a relationship.
"The final insult was when he came over here and told us we would be in the ‘back of the queue’ when it came to a trade deal if we left the EU. Now, all that could be about to change, as Trump heads to the White House.”
A “tangible reward” would be to rescue Nato by persuading other European leaders to increase low levels of military spending that have infuriated both Mr Trump and Mr Obama.
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“That is where the UK as a close and trusted friend can help re-shape that relationship so that the USA remains committed to Nato while helping get greater commitment from others,” he argued.
He added that Trump’s tax affairs and his views on women were “an anathema made worse by the conflicting accounts I received of who Trump was from those who knew him”.
Defence experts warned that Mr Trump’s victory was a potential threat to the Nato security club, which could strengthen Vladimir Putin’s Russia.
Former RAF chief Sir Michael Graydon suggested that Mr Trump’s victory could be the “wake-up call” Europe needs to boost Nato spending.
During his campaign, Mr Trump said the US would only aid allies “if they fulfil their obligations to us”. Former head of the Army General Lord Dannatt called for an increase in UK defence spending.
He said: “We’ve seen Donald Trump threaten all sorts of things, we should take that threat seriously.”
Senior Tories are scrambling to build ties with the fledgling Trump administration.
Those with long-standing contacts include Liam Fox, Mr Duncan Smith, Bernard Jenkin and London MP Mark Field, who chairs the party’s International Office.
