Starmer to fly to meet Trump after raising defence spending

[nitpicked]

https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/clyrkkv4gd7o

Sir Keir Starmer is preparing to travel to Washington to meet Donald Trump after setting out plans to increase defence spending to 2.5% of national income by 2027.

On Tuesday, the prime minister said he would cut the foreign aid budget to fund the military boost - a move welcomed by the Trump administration but labelled a "betrayal" by development charities.

Sir Keir will face MPs in the Commons on Wednesday before flying to the US, where Ukraine will be top of the agenda.

The spending announcement came as leaders across Europe looked to overhaul defence policies over fears the US could make a deal with Russia to end the Ukraine war which leaves the continent vulnerable.
(snip)

[Emrys]

1. Macron will be a hard act to follow

I don't think Starmer has it in him to assert himself with, even dominate Trump in a similar manner.

Trump also has more to hold over Starmer if push comes to shove - e.g. the UK's nuclear forces depend (even more than usual at the moment) on US involvement. The state of the UK economy also leaves him vulnerable to pressure.

The UK also hosts a number of US bases, or collocated bases. How much Trump will see those as in the continuing vital US interest is anyone's guess, but the co-operation on signals intelligence alone is very significant.