One of the most expensive foreign embassies in the world opened its doors Tuesday without a ribbon-cutting ceremony or other fanfare.
The new $1 billion U.S. #embassy in London will serve as the American diplomatic hub in the United Kingdom. Shaped like a giant, majestic glass cube, its modern design has changed the skyline of the historically industrial neighborhood on the south side of the River Thames. It is now the most expensive U.S. embassy in the world, according to the Associated Press.
A calculated decision
Plans to move the American Embassy originated in October 2008, near the end of the Bush Administration.
The elegant, centrally-located building on Grosvenor Square that housed embassy operations until Monday. Administration officials told media outlets that the building had become outdated and was unable to be properly secured in an age of increased terroristic activity in London.
"In the end, we realized that the goal of a modern, secure and environmentally sustainable embassy could best be met by constructing a new facility," former U.S. ambassador Robert Tuttle told CNN.
Moreover, the Grosvenor Square building was not owned by the U.S. government. The former embassy was leased by the United States from the estate of the Duke of Westminster, which owns most of the land in Central London. The land for the new embassy and the construction costs were paid for by the United States solely using the proceeds from the sale of U.S.-owned real estate around the United Kingdom, U.S.
officials told the Associated Press.
Politicizing the move
Despite these statements previously made by U.S. officials, President Trump slammed the new embassy on Twitter last week, criticizing its relocation and cost. He blamed the move, which he erroneously attributed to the Obama Administration, for his decision to cancel his upcoming trip to the United Kingdom to meet with Prime Minister Theresa May.
Critics of Trump's comments suggested that the president was scapegoating the embassy move, further speculating that his real motive for cancellation was the public outcry and outward protest from U.K. citizens after the plans for a state visit were announced weeks ago. #Trump has not publicly responded to the scapegoating allegations.
In comments made to CNN last year, the new, Trump-appointed ambassador to Britain, Robert Johnson, called the new, energy-efficient embassy a “bargain." He added that the absence of a fence around the perimeter creates a welcoming environment, while indoor state-of-the-art security processes make the facility inherently secure.
According to the AP, there were no official opening ceremonies held on Tuesday.
