President Trump hosted United Kingdom Prime Minister Keir Starmer at the White House on Thursday for discussions focused on the Russia-Ukraine war.
The war in Ukraine will be a focal point of the meeting between the US president and UK prime minister in Washington later.
With a mix of flattery and frank talk, the center-left Starmer made the case to the Republican president to remain cautious as he goes about ending the biggest conflict in Europe since World War II. The British premier started the visit by delivering an invitation from King Charles III to come to Scotland for a “historic” state visit — noting it was an “unprecedented” honor since Trump already had been given the royal treatment by Queen Elizabeth II during his first term.
Prime Minister Keir Starmer said on Tuesday he would increase annual defence spending to 2.5% of GDP by 2027 and target a 3% level last seen just after the Cold War, a signal to U.S. President Donald Trump that Britain can boost Europe's security.
Peter Mandelson, the new U.K. ambassador to the U.S., is leading Britain’s latest charm offensive towards Trump
The prime minister wants to keep everyone happy. He has been loath to criticize Trump, has warmed up Britain’s post-Brexit partnership with the European Union, avowedly backed Kyiv and thawed ties with China. At a time of geopolitical upheaval, he is attempting to squeeze Britain into an impossibly tight Venn diagram.
United States Vice President JD Vance has clashed with United Kingdom Prime Minister Keir Starmer over free speech.