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Donald Trump has specialized in the contempt of traditional American allies since his arrival at the White House, but Thursday, he adopted a surprisingly new approach: praising a “fantastic” Great Britain and his “special” guest, Sir Keir Starmer.
The British Prime Minister was a “special man”, King Charles was “a handsome man” and the wife of Starmer Vic was “a beautiful wonderful woman”.
Trump even described Starmer’s accent as “magnificent”.
The appreciation show, led over several hours of White House negotiationswas reciprocal in certain friendly press events, in which the two parties seemed determined to show that it was possible to have a positive relationship with Trump.
Starmer, who brought an invitation to Scotland for Trump of King Charles, described this honor as “incredible” and “unprecedented”. The relationship, in case someone missed it, has been described several times by Starmer as “special”.
There was a substance behind honey frozen words: Trump surprisingly approved the Starmer agreement to transfer sovereignty to the Chagos Islands to Mauritius, an agreement previously criticized by the upper members of his administration.
And the American president suspended the prospect of a US-UK Trade Deal – An agreement frequently discussed in London and Washington, but has never really delivered – as a means for Great Britain to dodge Trump’s pricensive, including its threat of a 25% tax on EU imports.
But on the main objective of Starmer in the talks of the White House – ensuring an American “security net” for European peacekeepers in Ukraine after a possible peace agreement with Russia – he emerged with little to show for his schmoozing.
Trump’s assertion that a new US-Ukraine mineral agreement would serve as a “safety net” in itself, because Russia would not dare to strike American workers and economic interests, was not going until Starmer would have liked. And strictly on the military front, Trump said: “The British do not need a lot of help.”
Starmer could only say that there had been a “very productive discussion” about the issue, when it was questioned on this subject at the press conference which followed the meeting. “The agreement must come first, but yes, our teams will talk about how we ensure that the sticks of agreement are durable and applied,” he said.
On Sunday, the British Prime Minister will host representatives of 18 London countries to decide what to do next. Will Great Britain or its allies agree to deploy soldiers of peace in Ukraine without the promise of American support?
Starmer seemed to remain full of hope, praising Trump for “changing the conversation” on Ukraine.
The Prime Minister will also be able to claim a certain comfort, if not encouragement, on the economic front.
Trump has ceased to say that the United Kingdom would certainly be spared the high samples from imported goods which it has threatened and applied to the nearest American trade partners.
But the president joked by saying that Starmer “tried” convincing him to let the United Kingdom take down. Trump said an exemption from prices was likely, as long as negotiators in Washington and London could agree on an elusive trade agreement for years.
Trump and Starmer were short of the details of such an agreement, but they said he could be focused on digital trade and advanced technologies such as artificial intelligence.
“Instead of regularly regularizing these new technologies, we seize the opportunities they offer,” said Starmer.
Trump said commercial negotiations would imply his senior officials, including JD Vance, Vice-President, Scott Bessent, the Treasury Secretary, and Howard Lutnick, Commerce Secretary.
“I think we will have two offers. An agreement on the end of the war, and I think we will end up with excellent trade agreement, “said Trump.
