A bust of Winston Churchill will gaze at Keir Starmer on Thursday as he executes one of the trickiest visits by a British Prime Minister with a US president since the days of the great World War II leader. Starmer's critical mission in the Oval Office is to peel Donald Trump away from Russian President Vladimir Putin, extract security guarantees for Ukraine following an eventual peace deal, and save the transatlantic alliance.
French President Emmanuel Macron visited Washington on a similar quest Monday but got no concrete assurances from Trump. Trump dismissed the idea of robust US security guarantees for Ukraine, stating that Europe should take that responsibility as they are Ukraine's next-door neighbor.
Starmer emphasized the need for lasting peace in Ukraine, which he believes requires security guarantees from the US. He also plans to press Trump for a 'backstop' for a reassurance force that Britain and France are ready to send to Ukraine in the event of a peace agreement.
Trump's recent statements and actions have caused concern among US allies in Europe. He has suggested that Ukraine should not join NATO and hinted at allowing Putin to keep all captured territory in Ukraine.
There is confusion surrounding a proposed deal for the US to profit from Ukraine's rare earth minerals, with Trump claiming it would repay Washington for its aid to Kyiv during the war. However, the draft agreement seen does not mention such claims.
Starmer's visit to Trump comes at a critical time as the US president pursues economic deals with Russia and hints at a summit with Putin. This shift towards Putin has raised alarms among US allies in Europe.
Starmer's visit represents a challenging moment in his premiership, as he seeks to navigate Trump's unconventional approach to foreign policy. He has announced an increase in Britain's military spending to impress Trump, who has demanded higher defense spending from NATO members.
Meetings between US presidents and British prime ministers often evoke wartime solidarity and the 'special relationship.' However, Trump's focus on transactional relationships and his demands for increased defense spending have added complexity to the relationship.
Starmer, known for his understated demeanor and commitment to principles, faces a unique challenge in dealing with Trump. Despite their differences, Starmer's potential invitation for Trump to make a state visit to Britain could be a point of common ground.
