Could Huawei destroy the special relationship?

Last week, the Trump administration warned the German government that if it uses 5G wireless technology built by China’s Huawei, Washington will curtail intelligence sharing with its Nato ally. American officials are concerned that Berlin’s willingness to host Chinese technology threatens Nato security, and will give cover to other countries considering letting Huawei into their telecommunications systems. Yet Washington’s blunt statement might also have been a shot across Britain’s bow.

Far more than Germany, Britain is a key intelligence partner of the United States, the cornerstone of the so-called ‘Five Eyes’ community. If Whitehall permits Huawei to set up 5G networks in Britain, the White House will face the unpleasant choice of ignoring its deeply held concerns about Huawei’s potential security risks or possibly cutting back intelligence cooperation with its closest ally. More than any other potential disagreement between across the Atlantic, the Huawei case could threaten the ‘special relationship’.

Britain’s mandarins are steadily moving towards accepting Huawei as one of the builders of the country’s 5G networks.