David Miliband tells ITV News: UK's special relationship with United States 'facing dangers' after Trump victory
Video report by ITV News World Affairs Editor Rageh Omaar
The UK's special relationship with the United States is under threat if both countries "turn inwards", David Miliband has warned.
In his first British interview since the US election, the former Foreign Secretary said the UK and the US "will always have an abiding sense of common values" but said it remained "important" that both countries play a role in building an "international system" that is "inclusive rather than exclusive".
In a wide-ranging interview with ITV News World Affairs Editor Rageh Omaar, the President and CEO of the International Rescue Committee said there had been a "high degree of polarisation in American society" after the "rancorous" election campaign, but said he was concerned "the rancor and division of the politics doesn't become a calamity".
David Miliband on the UK-US special relationship
Without referring specifically to Britain's decision to leave the European Union or US President-elect Donald Trump's much talked about protectionist ideology, Mr Miliband said: "I think there are two dangers for the special relationship. One is that Britain turns inwards and the other is that America turns inwards.
"Our two countries will always have an abiding sense of common values and common interests but the question is whether or not we do big things together in a way that's good for the world as well as good for each other.
"At a time when the pressures are to turn inwards, I think it's very important that two countries that have always tried to think globally and have a position on the United Nations security council that reflects that, that we continue to try and build an international system that's based on rules and institutions that are inclusive rather than exclusive."
Mr Miliband, who moved to America after losing out to his brother Ed in the battle to succeed Gordon Brown as Labour leader, said Donald Trump faces a "daunting in tray" as he prepares to become the 45th President of the United States in January.
He called on Mr Trump to continue America's reputation as a "global leader" in offering international humanitarian aide and refugee resettlement, adding that it is "right, practical and smart" for the most vulnerable refugees - including those from Syria - to be "given haven", enabling them to become "productive, patriotic citizens".
David Miliband on the task ahead of Donald Trump
Reflecting on the task ahead for Mr Trump, he said: "I think that any incoming president would face a daunting in tray. The crosswinds of globalisation in respect of riling Middle East, a resurgent Russia, a China that's deciding how to use its new strength, a real potential nuclear crisis in respect of North Korea, nevermind the difficulties in Europe around the refugee crisis and the euro crisis - that's a daunting agenda.
"And the truth about the global system is that it's been stable when it's had consistent and clear American leadership and the consistency and the clarity and the leadership are all important to that because American leadership is about an anchor for the global system, an anchor in values and an anchor in interests.
"And I think the premium over the next six to 12 months, which are always the most dangerous six to 12 months when there's a new administration... the premium is going to be on decisive and clear leadership on issues that come out of the blue but also on care and consistency on issues which are in the in tray already."
On Wednesday Hillary Clinton admitted she felt as though she wanted to "never leave the house again" after losing the US presidential election to Republican Donald Trump, as she spoke for the first time since conceding defeat.
Mr Miliband revealed how he has told staff in his office that they should "honour" what they feel about the result, as he echoed Mrs Clinton's call not to give up on the Democratic process.
David Miliband on Hillary Clinton dealing with defeat
"I think that Hillary's comments yesterday show how raw is the defeat that she's recently suffered but also the strength in the core of her that she feels this pervading sense of responsibility to speak up both for the causes that she believes but also for the idea of America that she believes in.
"I think that this must have been the most painful experience of her life, it's certainly been a shock to her as well as all of her supporters that an election that seemed there for the grasping has been lost at the last minute."