Starmer prepares to replace UK ambassador to US amid strained relations with Trump, The Guardian reports

The move is linked to a difficult political backdrop, driven in part by diverging approaches to the war in Ukraine and sharp criticism of European leaders by US President Donald Trump.

According to the report, Starmer has already interviewed several candidates this week, including career diplomats and senior advisers with experience working with US administrations. He is now weighing their credentials and political suitability.

Shortlist for ambassador

The candidates include Starmer’s business adviser Varun Chandra, career diplomat Christian Turner, and the UK’s current ambassador to Russia, Nigel Casey.

Chandra is seen as the frontrunner, having played a key role in talks with the US on trade, technology, and pharmaceuticals. However, the Foreign Office is said to favour a professional diplomat, viewing this as a less risky option politically. Both Turner and Casey have extensive experience in sensitive international roles and are well-regarded in Washington.

A decision is expected by the end of the year, though Starmer has not ruled out appointing an alternative candidate directly if none of the current contenders convince him.

Growing UK–US tensions

The appointment comes at a critical moment, as London seeks to preserve close strategic ties with Washington while maintaining an independent European foreign policy.

Concerns are growing within the British government over rising tensions with the US, particularly over the Trump administration’s stance on Ukraine. Trump has openly pressured Kyiv to make territorial concessions to Russia in pursuit of a rapid end to the war, alarming European allies.

The UK, alongside EU partners, continues to back Ukraine and warns against any settlement that could benefit the Kremlin. The next ambassador in Washington will therefore play a key role in defending a common UK-European position on the war and on European security more broadly.

Transatlantic tensions have also been fuelled by Trump’s increasingly confrontational rhetoric towards European leaders, EU migration policy, and security approaches. British lawmakers have already criticised the new US national security strategy, which includes language about Europe’s "civilisational erosion" and support for so-called “patriotic parties”.

The ambassadorial post has been vacant since September, following the controversial dismissal of Peter Mandelson over undisclosed links to financier Jeffrey Epstein, a scandal that dealt a reputational blow to Starmer’s government and has made Downing Street more cautious about choosing his successor.

Meanwhile, around half of Europeans view Trump as an enemy of Europe.