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Theresa May tonight vowed there will be no more failed Iraq-style foreign invasions by British forces in the biggest foreign policy shake-up in 20 years.

In her first US speech as Prime Minister, Mrs May called time on two decades of so-called 'liberal intervention' by Britain in countries like Afghanistan, Iraq, Libya and Kosovo.

It is in our interests to stand strong together to defend our values, the PM said.

This cannot mean a return to the failed policies of the past. The days of Britain and America intervening in sovereign countries in an attempt to remake the world in our own image are over.

Her comments signal an end to two decades of intervention by Britain in countries such as Afghanistan, Iraq, Libya, Kosovo and Sierra Leone.

However the PM also warned President Trump not to stand idly by in the face of real threats to national security.

And she urged him to help defend eastern Europe from the growing threat from Vladimir Putin.

The new President has described NATO as obsolete and questioned whether he would bother to defend eastern European states if Russia attacked.

But Mrs May invoked Trump's hero, former President Ronald Reagan, as she begged him to stand up for eastern Europe.

When it comes to Russia, as so often it is wise to turn to the example of President 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', she said.

We should not jeopardise the freedoms that President Reagan and Mrs Thatcher brought to

She had earlier claimed "opposites attract" when asked about her relationship with Donald Trump in a remark that risks enraging millions of women around the world who marched in protest last Saturday following the inauguration.

Mrs May will become the first world leader to meet the new President since his inauguration when the pair sit down for talks in the White House.

She is desperate to strike up a close relationship despite repeated warnings from Tory MPs not to get too close to the much-criticised President.

President Trump sounded somewhat less excited by the summit than the PM as he moaned about having to lead talks on a UK/US trade deal himself.

His choice for commerce secretary Wilbur Ross has not yet been approved by Congress.

"I'm meeting the Prime Minister tomorrow, he told a Republican Party conference in Philadelphia.

I don't have my Commerce Secretary yet, and they want to talk trade. So I'll have to handle it myself... Which is ok."

But Mrs May risks enraging millions of women around the world who marched in protest last Saturday following President Trump's inauguration.

The new President has previously boasted about sexually assaulting women and now wants to clamp down on abortion rights.

Mrs May did condemn his boasts as unacceptable earlier this month - but as she prepares for their first meeting tomorrow she was keen to stress areas of common ground.

I think we both share a desire to ensure that governments are working for everyone - and particularly that governments are working for ordinary working families and working class families, the PM said.

I think that's important. I think we share that interest and that intention in both our countries.

In a speech to leading Republican politicians in Philadelphia tonight Mrs May will go further and shower praise on Mr Trump and his plans for office.

She will credit him with helping America to rediscover its confidence and to renew the nation.

And she will vow that under their leadership Britain and America can lead together again.

Speaking ahead of the speech she said her first White House summit will be crucial in cementing that special relationship.

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Whats going to be important is having the opportunity to actually sit down with President Trump and talk to him face to face, about the interests we share, about the special relationship, about the joint challenges we both face, she said.

I believe what will come out of this is a very clear determination on both sides not just to maintain the special relationship, but also to build it for the future.

There is a real role for the UK and the US working together.

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Theresa May vows no more 'failed' Iraq-style invasions while speaking in US amid radical foreign policy shake-up - Mirror.co.uk