British Prime Minister Keir Starmer is set to meet with President Donald Trump at the White House on Thursday to address the ongoing conflict in Ukraine and strengthen bilateral trade ties. This meeting comes at a critical time as the U.S. president has been threatening tariffs on Europe and demanding that the continent take more responsibility for its own security.
In his usual assertive manner, Trump has been vocal about his expectations for NATO members to increase their defense spending to 5% of their Gross Domestic Product (GDP). He has also made it clear that the U.S. should not be bearing the majority of the financial burden in this regard.
In order to appease Trump, Starmer recently announced a surprising increase in the U.K.’s defense budget to 2.5% of the nation’s GDP by 2027, with a further increase to 2.6% the following year. This decision was not taken lightly, but was deemed necessary in light of Russia’s 2022 invasion of Ukraine. This increase will be funded by cutting Britain’s already depleted foreign aid budget to just 0.3% of the country’s GDP.
In a statement to members of the British Parliament, Starmer emphasized the importance of the U.S.-U.K. relationship, calling it the “most important bilateral alliance” for his country. He reiterated his commitment to strengthening this relationship during his meeting with Trump.
The British Prime Minister also made it clear that the decision to increase defense spending was not solely influenced by Trump’s expectations, but had been in the works for the past three years. He acknowledged that the recent developments in Ukraine, with Trump’s move to negotiate with Moscow without the involvement of Ukraine or European countries, had accelerated this decision. He also stressed the need for Europe to have a seat at the table in any discussions regarding Ukraine, as they cannot be expected to bear the burden of defense spending without having a say in strategic decisions.
In comparison, the U.S. spent 3.4% of its GDP on defense in 2023, according to data from the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute. This further highlights the need for European countries to step up and contribute more to their own security.
Starmer’s meeting with Trump comes soon after French President Emmanuel Macron’s visit to the White House on Monday. Macron proposed the creation of a European peacekeeping force in Ukraine to serve as a security guarantee against future Russian aggression. This proposal has been endorsed by Starmer, and if implemented, would see the U.S. take a backseat role in terms of defense, only stepping in during times of crisis. This plan, however, is still in its early stages and its success depends on the cooperation and support of other NATO and European Union countries.
As Starmer and Trump sit down for their meeting, the most important factor will be whether they can find common ground and establish a united vision for the Western world. This could pave the way for a joint effort to end the conflict in Ukraine with the support of NATO.
In a recent statement, Trump has also indicated that Ukraine should not expect much from the U.S. in terms of security guarantees or a path towards NATO membership. He emphasized that Europe should take responsibility for its own security, as they are Ukraine’s next-door neighbor. This further underscores the need for European countries to increase their defense spending and take a more active role in security matters.
Aside from discussing the conflict in Ukraine, Trump is also pushing for a deal that would give the U.S. access to Ukraine’s rare earth minerals and recoup funds given by the Biden administration to support the country’s war efforts. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy is also set to meet with Trump at the White House on Friday, highlighting the importance of this visit for both countries.
The visit poses a challenge for Starmer as he tries to balance the interests of the U.K. with those of its European allies while engaging with an unpredictable U.S. administration. One of the key issues he will be addressing is the potential impact of U.S. tariffs on British exports, as the U.S. has already imposed 25% tariffs on steel and aluminum from European countries. Trump has also threatened to impose more tariffs, citing unfair trade practices by the European Union.
However, British finance minister Rachel Reeves has expressed confidence that the U.S.-U.K. trade and investment will not be derailed by these threats. Starmer will be working towards finding a solution that satisfies
