London – Britain’s exit from the European Union “may create some difficult times ahead,” UK Prime Minister Theresa May told the BBC ahead of a summit with world leaders in China.
Approved by a national referendum in June, Britain’s EU departure — informally known as Brexit — “is not about the UK suddenly wanting to be inward looking,” Britain’s new leader said in her first major interview since taking office. “Actually we will continue to be a bold, out-looking country”
May’s televised comments were made before leaders of the world’s most industrialized nations gathered in Hangzhou at the G20 summit this weekend to discuss top issues, including the global economy. The G20 includes 19 of the world’s major economic powers plus the European Union.
She said her administration wants to “emphasize the role that we would be playing in the world” including forging new deals. “We want to be an independent Britain, forging our own way in the world.”
“I am not going to pretend that it is all going to be plain sailing,” May added. “I think we must be prepared for the fact that there may be some difficult times ahead, but what I am is optimistic.”
During scheduled meetings with President Obama, May said she wants “to start to scope out what the negotiations on a trade deal would look like, so when the time comes, when we are ready to sign those deals, we can do so.”
Obama said Sunday he wanted to gauge the new leader’s plans during their meetings. The US has insisted the UK’s departure from the EU must proceed in an organized fashion. The “special relationship” between the US and the UK would guide Washington’s view of the process, he said.
“The bottom line is that we don’t have a stronger partner anywhere in the world than the United Kingdom,” said Obama. “Despite the turbulence of political events over the last several months, we have every intention to making sure that that continues.”
The weekend summit is Obama’s first face-to-face encounter with May since she replaced David Cameron, a close Obama ally who resigned after the Brexit vote. Obama took the unusual step of personally lobbying against Britain’s UK exit. After the vote didn’t go his way, the President said he would stand by Britain amid the country’s internal struggles.
During a joint news conference with Obama on Sunday, May said exit negotiations would move forward.
“Brexit does indeed mean Brexit,” she said, using the slogan she coined after taking office in July.
In the BBC interview May repeated several times that she and her party “respect the wishes” of the British electorate. “The British people want us to leave the EU and that is what we would do.”
As reported by CNN