Latest news with #UKDiplomacy
RNZ News
28-05-2025
- Business
- RNZ News
UK Consul-General visits Northern Marianas, highlights shared island priorities and future partnerships
British Consul-General Paul Rennie has visited the Northern Marianas and Guam Photo: Supplied British Consul-General Paul Rennie has visited the Northern Marianas and Guam - the first UK diplomat of his rank to do so. Rennie called the trip "overdue" but essential, as the United Kingdom looks to deepen ties with island communities across the Pacific. "This was the first visit in history by a serving British Consul-General," Rennie said. "While we've had British military visiting the islands before - such as [the ship] HMS Queen Elizabeth in 2021 - it was important for me to show that we value this relationship across a wider spectrum of areas." During his three-day visit in the CNMI, Rennie held meetings with key leaders including Lieutenant Governor David Apatang, Senate President Dennis Mendiola, and Saipan Mayor Ramon Camacho. He also visited cultural and historic sites and spoke with educators, business leaders, and tourism officials. Rennie said the CNMI left an impression on him. "The incredible warmth and hospitality of the people I met, their deep connection to the island and its culture and history, and their resilience and positivity when confronting challenges - all stood out to me," he said. He emphasized that as an island nation itself, composed of multiple islands such as the Shetlands and Orkneys, the UK shares many of the same challenges as the CNMI - especially in energy development, environmental management, and economic diversification. "There is a famous quote that no person is an island, and as island nations it makes it all the more critical that we come together and work together to meet shared global challenges." Rennie said he sees potential for the CNMI and the UK to collaborate on sustainable energy projects, small business development, aquaculture, and even logistics innovations, like drone deliveries to isolated communities - technology already being tested in parts of Scotland. "In Scotland we've been testing unmanned aerial drones to deliver mail and medicine to remote islands," Rennie noted. "That could be useful in the CNMI, especially for communities in Rota or the Northern Islands." The Consul General said his visit was not simply symbolic. "It was a chance to learn about the challenges facing these islands, and the innovations that are being developed to meet these challenges," he said. "There's a lot that we can partner with from the UK." He added that his office would explore how the UK could support island communities in the US Pacific territories, particularly in green energy, broadband expansion, and entrepreneurship.
RNZ News
28-05-2025
- Business
- RNZ News
UK Consul-General visits Northern Marianas
British Consul-General Paul Rennie has visited the Northern Marianas and Guam Photo: Supplied British Consul-General Paul Rennie has visited the Northern Marianas and Guam - the first UK diplomat of his rank to do so. Rennie called the trip "overdue" but essential, as the United Kingdom looks to deepen ties with island communities across the Pacific. "This was the first visit in history by a serving British Consul-General," Rennie said. "While we've had British military visiting the islands before - such as [the ship] HMS Queen Elizabeth in 2021 - it was important for me to show that we value this relationship across a wider spectrum of areas." During his three-day visit in the CNMI, Rennie held meetings with key leaders including Lieutenant Governor David Apatang, Senate President Dennis Mendiola, and Saipan Mayor Ramon Camacho. He also visited cultural and historic sites and spoke with educators, business leaders, and tourism officials. Rennie said the CNMI left an impression on him. "The incredible warmth and hospitality of the people I met, their deep connection to the island and its culture and history, and their resilience and positivity when confronting challenges - all stood out to me," he said. He emphasized that as an island nation itself, composed of multiple islands such as the Shetlands and Orkneys, the UK shares many of the same challenges as the CNMI - especially in energy development, environmental management, and economic diversification. "There is a famous quote that no person is an island, and as island nations it makes it all the more critical that we come together and work together to meet shared global challenges." Rennie said he sees potential for the CNMI and the UK to collaborate on sustainable energy projects, small business development, aquaculture, and even logistics innovations, like drone deliveries to isolated communities - technology already being tested in parts of Scotland. "In Scotland we've been testing unmanned aerial drones to deliver mail and medicine to remote islands," Rennie noted. "That could be useful in the CNMI, especially for communities in Rota or the Northern Islands." The Consul General said his visit was not simply symbolic. "It was a chance to learn about the challenges facing these islands, and the innovations that are being developed to meet these challenges," he said. "There's a lot that we can partner with from the UK." He added that his office would explore how the UK could support island communities in the US Pacific territories, particularly in green energy, broadband expansion, and entrepreneurship.
BBC News
14-05-2025
- Politics
- BBC News
Mark Carney says Canadians are not 'impressed' by UK's invite to Trump
Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney has said Canadians were not "impressed" by the UK government's invitation to US President Donald Trump for a second state visit. The newly elected Carney told Sky News that the UK's invitation earlier this year did not help Canadians, who were facing repeat comments from Trump about making Canada the 51st US state. "To be frank, [Canadians] weren't impressed by that gesture... given the circumstance," he said. "It was at a time when we were being quite clear about the issues around sovereignty."Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer invited Trump to come to the UK for a visit during a meeting at the White House in February. Asked whether the invitation was "appropriate", Carney said that was a decision for the government of the UK and Buckingham Palace."I leave the diplomacy to the UK government," he BBC has contacted the Carney's office and No 10 for comment. Buckingham Palace declined to respond. The criticism from Carney comes as the Canadians prepare to welcome King Charles III and Queen Camilla at the end of this month for a royal visit. During the Sky News interview, Carney said his invitation for the King - Canada's head of state - to attend the opening of Canada's Parliament "is not coincidental". "It is also a reaffirming moment, will be a reaffirming," Carney said, saying issues around Canada's sovereignty "have been accentuated by the president".During his visit, the King will also read the Speech from the Throne - a function usually carried out by the governor last time this happened was in October 1977 when Queen Elizabeth II read the speech for the second time in Canada's history. The first was in returning to the White House, Trump has made repeated comments undermining Canada's sovereignty, including that the Canadian border is an "artificially drawn line".Meanwhile, Carney has firmly said Canada is "not for sale, ever".Carney - who said he would only meet the US president "until we get the respect we deserve" - sat down with Trump in Washington DC last week to begin negotiations on a new trade and security relationship. During the visit, Trump repeated his 51st state comments. Pressed on that, Carney told Sky News that Trump has shifted his tone from "expectation to a desire for that to happen". "He also came from a place where he recognised that was not going to happen."
