Trump says he will visit the UK in the “narrow future” when meeting with PM Keir Starmer

President Trump said on Thursday that he will visit the UK in the “narrow future” when he meets with the British Prime Minister Keir Starmer In the White House, will the “special relationship” established during World War II survive.

“It’s a very honor to be the Prime Minister in the Oval Office,” Mr Trump said. “It’s a very special place, he’s a special person. Britain is a – great, it’s a wonderful country that I know very well. I’m there a lot. I’m going, I’ll go there, and we hope to see each other in the near future. We’ll announce that.”

Mr. Trump said he and Starmer will discuss Russia and Ukraine as his search for an end to the war began when the invasion of Ukraine in February 2022.

“Do I say that?” Mr. Trump said, demanding that his characteristics of Zelenskyy be repeated. “I can’t believe I said that. Next question.”

According to the room’s reporter, Starmer thanked Mr. Trump for changing the conversation in Ukraine and said he thought “historic deals” could be achieved.

Starmer said before the meeting that the United States and the United Kingdom “want to build a new partnership. We agree that our best days are in the future.”

“Taking out a chainsaw is not my style, but we are stripping the traditional Chinese tape and bureaucracy,” he said. He immediately poked Musk lightly, while also trying to attract Trump’s enthusiasm for the slim administration. “We are reforming, allowing, building things, reducing barriers to investment and growth, we are willing to do business, open investment, and we are determined to help our innovators thriving in the UK.”

Starmer presented King Charles’ letter to the president, and Mr. Trump read it in real time. Mr. Trump called the British King “a beautiful man and a great man”.

Collective security in the United Kingdom, the United States and through NATO

Starmer did not arrive in Washington empty-handed. His administration plans to crash UK defence spending from its current 2.3% GDP to 2.5% by 2027, a few days ago, and his office has called it the largest continued defence spending increase in the UK since the Cold War. Starmer opens the possibility of further rise in defence spending to 3% after the next British election.

The timing of the Prime Minister’s announcement is worth noting, just two days before the meeting with Trump. A White House official said before the meeting that the Trump administration was “very satisfied” with Starmer’s announcement, but it still hopes to see further increase defense spending by U.S. NATO allies, accounting for 5% of their respective countries’ GDP. Even if the U.S. spends on defense, this will be proportional, and the U.S. accounts for about 3.4% of U.S. GDP in 2023.

Mr. Trump hinted that the United States could be separated from NATO’s historic collective defense agreement, namely Article 5, which essentially said that if other members were attacked it would be seen as an attack on everyone if other members did not increase their defense spending.

“I think that means there must be a security guarantee,” Stemmer said. Helps defend Ukraine’s commitment If a ceasefire arrives to stop the ongoing war, oppose future Russian attacks. “I pointed out that we will play our role. There must be our support, because otherwise I don’t think that will stop Putin. We are working on it. I have a wide discussion on this.”

A White House official said the United States appreciates Starmer’s willingness to consider sending British troops to assist in peacekeeping efforts to implement a potential peace agreement between Russia and Ukraine, but Mr Trump made it clear that all security assurances in Ukraine could come from Europe.

“I won’t offer much assurance for security guarantees,” Trump said this week. “We’re going to have Europe do that because we’re talking about that Europe is their next neighbor, but we’re going to make sure everything goes well.”

UK – UK Trade

Mr. Trump’s tariff threat will also be on the agenda during Thursday’s White House meeting. 25% Tariffs for all steel and aluminum He said Mr. Trump’s order to protect U.S. companies will be imported into the United States on March 12. Starmer may seek exemptions.

Mr. Trump Hint a few weeks ago If this does not happen, a unilateral trade agreement can be reached with the UK, with concerns that some of the estimated 40,000 UK jobs related to steel and aluminum production may be lost and the entire plant may be closed.

After Starmer met with Mr Trump, he plans to meet with several European leaders in London on Sunday, including heads of state from Germany, Italy and Poland. There is no doubt that Starmer will briefly introduce them to his talks with the U.S. president.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy may join them after meeting with Trump in Washington on Friday, and he is expected to sign a financial agreement to share his country’s mineral wealth with Washington, which Trump has provided “reward” to Ukraine over the past three years.