By Caroline Hug,Dan Bloom,Esther Webber,Fiona Maxwell,Graham Lanktree,Russell Hargrave,Sophie Inge,Tom Bristow
Copyright politico
But other areas are far trickier. Tariffs on U.K. steel and aluminum remain at 25 percent, despite both sides signing a “landmark economic deal” in May. The future for Ukraine looks unclear a month after European leaders, including Starmer, met with Trump in the Oval Office. Starmer is close to recognizing a Palestinian state, deepening a gulf between Britain’s policy and that of the U.S.
U.K. officials will want the visit to run like clockwork — a U.K. delegation was in the U.S. Monday to finalize preparations — but Trump is unpredictable. After Charlie Kirk’s murder, he could be asked about free speech in Britain. He will doubtless be asked his opinion on the sacking of U.K. ambassador Peter Mandelson over his friendship with disgraced Jeffrey Epstein. And he could choose to opine on a mass protest in London on Saturday that was led by far-right activist Tommy Robinson, where Trump’s former ally Elon Musk called on attendees to “fight back or you die.”
Before we get to all that … POLITICO has done a quick-fire round-up of what the U.K government still wants to get, and what it’s already got in the bank.
The visit gives Starmer a chance to re-up the importance of the conflict in Ukraine after Russian drones crossed into Polish airspace, a test for NATO.
While the U.S. shifted last month toward security guarantees — backing up European forces in a post-war Ukraine — those are yet to be fully fleshed out, and still depend on a ceasefire. One U.K. government figure said: “We can’t do it without a peace. That’s the inhibiting factor.”
British diplomacy has focused on attempting to persuade Trump that Putin is the main barrier to peace, and to apply more pressure in that direction. After Axios reported that Trump has told confidants that he misjudged Putin’s desire for peace, Starmer — and U.K. Foreign Secretary Yvette Cooper, who is expected to meet U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio — may spy an opening. The meeting also comes days after Trump said he is ready to impose “major sanctions” on Moscow if NATO members stop purchasing Russian oil.
