US to pressure Britain to reconsider letting Huawei build part of 5G network as UK investigates leak
- State Department official Robert Strayer, who has been at forefront of anti-Huawei lobbying, expected to give Monday briefing
- British Chancellor Philip Hammond confirms government inquiry into who leaked information on 5G decision
US President Donald Trump’s administration is expected to put further pressure on Britain to reconsider the decision to allow Chinese telecoms company Huawei to help build parts of its 5G telecoms network.
The United States has arranged for a representative from the State Department, which has repeatedly warned of the risks of using Huawei, to give a briefing on Monday.
Robert Strayer, a deputy assistant secretary who has been at the forefront of anti-Huawei lobbying, argued earlier this month that if countries adopt “risk-based security frameworks” it “will lead inevitably to the banning of Huawei”.
The latest US lobbying comes after the leak of a decision by the normally secret UK National Security Council, which agreed to allow Huawei to supply 5G technology after a contested meeting in which five cabinet members raised objections.
