Boris Johnson has won the leadership contest of the UK's Conservative Party and officially taken over as the country's new prime minister. The latest occupant of 10 Downing Street has an urgent task, which is to succeed where Theresa May failed and deliver Britain's departure from the European Union (EU).

At the same time, tensions are growing to a dangerous level with Iran, and the U.S.-British special relationship is in the midst of a turbulent period.

Clare Pearson, former chair of the British Chamber of Commerce in China, said Boris Johnson's populist sentiment could be helpful with his election campaign, but wouldn't help the country in times of difficulties. She believes his urgent task would be reuniting the British and delivering Brexit.

Questions about "character" have long dogged Johnson, and these questions resurfaced last month when police were called after a blazing fight between the politician and his partner.

Philip Ryan, deputy political editor of the Irish Independent, thinks the new UK prime minister possesses certain qualities that made him a leader. But Ryan also expressed concerns about how the Irish side would deal with the UK's new leader.

On the prospect of a no-deal Brexit, Cui Hongjian, director of the Department for European Studies, China Institute of International Studies, pointed out that Boris Johnson is merely using "no-deal Brexit" as a bargaining chip to reopen negotiations with the EU. 

Boris Johnson will also be tested by a major international crisis in his initial days as prime minister, in the wake of Iran's seizure of a British-flagged tanker in Omani waters. Steve Keen, honorary professor from University College London, said he is not optimistic about Johnson's performance in foreign policy.

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