British Prime Minister Theresa May has told the Republican Congressmen's Retreat the United States should engage but "beware" of Russia.
Mrs May was speaking at the party gathering in Philadelphia ahead of a meeting with US President Donald Trump tomorrow.
In her address, she said "When it comes to Russia, as so often it is wise to turn to the example of President (Ronald) Reagan who - during negotiations with his opposite number Mikhail Gorbachev - used to abide by the adage 'trust but verify.' With President Putin, my advice is to 'engage but beware.'"
Mrs May also called on allies of the US to "step up" and play their role in global security, echoing comments made by Mr Trump.
"Sovereign countries cannot outsource their security and prosperity to America. And they should not undermine the alliances that keep us strong by failing to step up and play their part," she said.
However, she also took the opportunity to defend international institutions such as NATO, saying: "Some of these organizations are in need of reform and renewal to make them relevant to our needs today. But we should be proud of the role our two nations - working in partnership - played in bringing them into being, and in bringing peace and prosperity to billions of people as a result,"
Earlier, the Tory leader said the UK will not back away from its condemnation of the use of torture, regardless of the approach taken by Mr Trump's administration.
She confirmed that the UK is holding to guidance which bars it from receiving intelligence material which may been obtained by the use of torture.
In the few days since his inauguration as President last week, Mr Trump has sparked widespread concern over his apparent willingness to revive the use of torture techniques, including "waterboarding" in which suspects are subjected to simulated drowning.
"The days of Britain and America intervening in sovereign countries … are over," Theresa May says at Republican Congressmen's Retreat pic.twitter.com/ywPrMGtkFd
— RTÉ News (@rtenews) January 26, 2017
Asked about the use of torture in his first TV interview as President, Mr Trump said: "Absolutely I feel it works."
A draft presidential order made public this week envisages a review of interrogation methods for terror suspects, the possible reopening of "black site" prisons outside the US and the continued use of the Guantanamo Bay camp in Cuba to hold "enemy combatants".
Speaking to the Commons on the eve of her departure for the US, Mrs May assured MPs that "we do not sanction torture, we do not get involved with that and that will continue to be our position".
And addressing reporters on her flight to Philadelphia, she said: "The UK government's position on torture has not changed. I confirmed this yesterday in the House of Commons.
"We condemn torture and my view on that won't change whether I'm talking to you or talking to the President of the United States of America."
Mrs May was challenged over whether the UK would maintain its position - set out in guidance drawn up in the wake of controversy over British facilitation of the "extraordinary rendition" of suspects following 9/11 - that it does not accept intelligence that may have been obtained by torture.
She replied: "Our guidance is very clear about the position the UK takes and our position has not changed."
And she added: "We have a very clear view in the United Kingdom that we absolutely condemn the use of torture and that has not changed and will not change."
Mrs May also said that Britain and the US will be able to start tearing down trade barriers before the UK leaves the European Union.
She said she believed that both sides will see economic advantages even before they are able to begin talks on a free trade agreement.
Under the terms of the European Customs Union, the UK cannot engage in formal negotiations on its own free trade deals with third countries while it remains a member of the EU.
But Mrs May said: "There is a limit as to how far we can go in terms of a formal free trade agreement until we've actually left the EU.
"I think there is much we can do in the interim in terms of looking at how we can remove some of the barriers to trade in a number of areas, so we are able to see an advantage to both of us even if we haven't been able to sign that legal free trade agreement."
In contrast to his predecessor Barack Obama - who predicted the UK would be "at the back of the queue" if it left the EU - Mr Trump has made clear he is keen for a swift deal with London.
But critics have raised concerns that a speedy agreement would only be obtainable on Washington's terms.
They argue this threatens to open up public services including the NHS to private US firms and to allow the import of foodstuffs which do not meet stringent EU public safety standards.
Looking ahead to tomorrow's talks in the White House, Mrs May said: "We are at the start of the process of talking about a trade deal. We are both very clear we want a trade deal.
"It will be in the interests of the United Kingdom. That's what I'm going to be taking into the trade discussions that will take place in due course. He will have the interests of the United States.
"I believe we can come to an agreement that is in the interests of both."
Asked whether the health sector would be protected in any deal, she replied: "As regards the NHS we are very clear as a Government we are committed to an NHS that is free at the point of use."
She declined to discuss which sectors might be included as priorities in any trade deal with the US, saying: "There's a whole range of areas we will be looking at. I'm not at this very early stage going to specify any particular areas."
