Dickinson suggests defence spending could be an early potential win.
“I don't expect he will be coming to Washington any time soon but, when he does, he could come with a story to tell that says, this is my approach to defence investments and this is how it is helping solve a problem for you: we are going to go further on defence.”
Others believe Burnham should be prepared to cut deals.
Joel Rubin, a former deputy assistant secretary of state, advised: “Burnham needs to come in with an agenda of what he needs from the US to advance his domestic goals, and to be ready to offer up tangible goodies to the US that will help Trump and the American people.”
Conversely, other experts warn that bowing to Trump would be a diplomatic failure and domestic suicide.
Brendan Boyle, a Democratic congressman from Pennsylvania, notes that “any leader who takes on Trump benefits domestically from doing so,” whereas if Burnham says “absurd, obsequious things in public, he would get absolutely hammered by his electorate.”
Richard Stengel, a former undersecretary of state in the Obama administration, urges Burnham to maintain a distance and adopt a “tough love stance.”
He cautioned: “First of all, I wouldn't wear a red tie under any circumstances. A red tie signals that you're lying down.”
“That universal European response of kowtowing to him and sucking up to him just turns out to be a poor strategy.
He turns on everybody so even if he forms an early 'Oh, he's my friend', he'll eventually turn on you.
