US-UK relationship indispensable, says Trump
London, July 13 : US President Donald Trump on Friday said his country's relationship with the UK was "indispensable", just hours after his comments attacking Prime Minister Theresa May's Brexit plan emerged.
At a news conference following talks at the Prime Minister's country residence, Trump said: "The relationship between our two nations is indispensable to the cause of liberty, justice, and peace."
He also said that "whatever" Britain does after it leaves the EU is "OK with us" as long as the US and UK can continue to trade together and called Brexit an "incredible opportunity", the BBC reported.
"Once the Brexit process is concluded, and perhaps the UK has left the EU - I don't know what they're going to do, but whatever you do is OK with me. That's your decision. Whatever you're going to do is OK with us. Just make sure we can trade together. That's all that matters," Trump said.
On her part, the British leader said they had discussed plans for an "ambitious" trade agreement.
However, Trump's comments were in stark contrast to what he said in an interview to the Sun tabloid that was published on Thursday.
He had said that May had ignored his advice on Brexit and warned that the UK will probably not get any future trade deal with the US, if it goes ahead with May's plan for post-Brexit ties with the European Union.
Trump said May's plan would "probably kill the deal" as it would mean the US "would be dealing with the EU" instead of with the UK.
He had also praised May's Conservative Party rival and former Foreign Secretary Boris Johnson, saying that he would make a "great Prime Minister", adding "I think he's got what it takes".
But later, Trump criticised the Sun's report by calling it "fake news". "I didn't criticize the Prime Minister. I have a lot of respect for her. And unfortunately, there was a story that was done, which was, you know, generally fine. But it didn't put in what I said about May. And I said tremendous things."
He said he had not given May advice on how to deal with the EU but "did give her a suggestion... and I think she found it maybe too brutal". Trump added that he had a recording of the interview and it would support his argument.
Meanwhile, thousands of people were protesting in central London against his visit. A large balloon, portraying the President as a baby, was floated in Parliament Square as part of the demonstrations. Other protests were due to take place across the UK on Friday and Saturday.
May has been making the case for a US free trade deal with Trump, on his first UK visit as President. She said the US was "keen" to do a deal with the UK, adding: "We will do a trade deal with them and with others around the rest of the world".
She maintained the government's Brexit agreement "delivers" on the referendum vote.
Earlier, Trump said he and May had spoken for an hour-and-a-half at the black-tie dinner, which he attended with his wife Melania at Blenheim Palace on Thursday evening. "I think we probably never developed a better relationship than last night," he said.
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Strict security measures in place in Mumbai for Messi's events at 2 venues Dec 14, say police
Mumbai (PTI): In view of Argentine superstar footballer Lionel Messi's visit to Mumbai on Sunday, the city police are implementing stringent security measures, like not allowing water bottles, metals, coins inside the stadiums and setting up watchtowers to keep an eye on the crowd, officials said.
The police also said taking extra care to avoid any stampede-like situation and to prevent recurrence of the chaotic situation that unfolded in Kolkata during Messi's visit on Saturday as thousands of fans protested inside the Salt Lake stadium here after failing to catch a clear glimpse of the football icon despite paying hefty sums for tickets.
Messi is expected to be present at the Cricket Club of India (Brabourne Stadium) in Mumbai on Sunday for a Padel GOAT Cup event followed by attending a celebrity football match. He is expected to proceed to the Wankhede Stadium for the GOAT India Tour main event around 5 pm.
"In view of Lionel Messi's visit to Mumbai, the police are geared up and have put in place a high level of security arrangements in and around the stadiums located in south Mumbai. Considering the chaos that prevailed in Kolkata and the security breach, we have deployed World Cup-level security arrangements at Brabourne and Wankhede stadiums," an official said.
Expecting heavy crowd near the stadiums during Messi's visit, the city police force has deployed more than 2,000 of its personnel near and around both the venues, he said.
As the Mumbai police have the experience of security 'bandobast' during the victory parade of ICC World Cup-winning Indian team and World Cup final match at the Wankhede Stadium, in which over one lakh cricket fans had gathered, we are prepared to handle a large crowd of fans, he said.
"We are trying to avoid the errors that occurred in the past," the official said.
There is no place to sneak inside the stadiums in Mumbai like the Kolkata stadium, according to him.
The police are also asking the organisers to provide all the required facilities to the fans inside the stadium, so that there will be no chaos, he said, adding the spectators have purchased tickets in the range of Rs 5,000 to 25,000. After paying so much of amount, any spectator expects proper services, while enjoying the event, he said.
The police are expecting 33,000 spectators at the Wankhede Stadium and over 4,000 at Brabourne Stadium. Besides this, more than 30,000 people are expected outside and around the stadiums just to have a glimpse of the football sensation, he said.
The organisers responsible for Messi's India visit recently came to Mumbai to discuss security arrangements. During the meeting, the Mumbai police asked them not to take the event lightly, according to the official.
After those requirements were fulfilled, the final security deployment was chalked out, he said.
Police has the standard procedure of the security arrangements inside the Wankhede Stadium, where people are barred from taking water bottles, metals objects, coins. Police are setting up watch towers near the stadiums and there will be traffic diversions, so that there is maximum space available to stand, according to the official.
Police are also appealing to the spectators to use public transport service for commuting and avoid personal vehicles to reach south Mumbai.
To avoid any stampede-like situation, police are also taking precautionary measures and will stop the fans some distance ahead of the stadium and public announcement systems will be used to guide the crowd. Barricades will be placed at various places to manage the crowd.
In case the crowd swells up beyond expectation, the police will divert people to other grounds and preparations in this regard underway, he said.
Additional police force has been deployed in south Mumbai to tackle any kind of situation, he said.
