Donald Trump says he likes UK PM Keir Starmer ‘a lot’

MT HANNACH
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Donald Trump gave birth to the hope in London to be able to maintain constructive relations with the United Kingdom, declaring to journalists that he liked “a lot” Sir Keir Starmer and that he could go to Great Britain during his first Travel abroad since returning to the White House.

AssetWho said he would speak to the British Prime Minister “in the coming 24 hours,” said Starmer: “He’s liberal, which is a little different from me, but I think it’s a very good No one and I think he did a very good job. Good work so far.

The positive comments of the American president will strengthen the feeling of Downing Street that Trump does not seek a confrontation with Starmer, despite the previous tensions with the Prime Minister and the senior members of his cabinet.

London is expected that Trump does not oppose the appointment of Lord Peter Mandelson as a new British ambassador to Washington; He is expected to take office next month.

Starmer allies also hope that Trump will not Block a disputed agreement in which Great Britain will give in sovereignty over the Chagos Islands in Mauritius in exchange for long-term guarantees on the future of the Anglo-American military base in Diego Garcia.

Trump did not mention the subject when he spoke to Starmer before Christmas and, speaking on Air Force One, he told journalists: “This was not the number one on my list. I will be honest with you.

The American president said on Saturday evening to a “group” of journalists whom he got along well with Starmer. “He represented his country in terms of philosophy,” said Trump.

“I may not agree with his philosophy, but I have very good relations with him.” Trump met Starmer for a dinner last September at Trump Tower, in what was considered by both parties as a positive meeting.

When asked where he could go for the first international trip to his second mandate to the White House, Trump replied: “It could be Saudi Arabia, it could be the United Kingdom. Traditionally, it could be the United Kingdom.

“The last time, I went to Saudi Arabia because they had agreed to buy for $ 450 billion in American goods. »»

Starmer this month tOld Financial Times in Kyiv That he had a “constructive” relationship with Trump, despite the many criticisms of the American president on the part of the working ministers in the past.

Keir Starmer with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy in Kyiv this month © AP

Asset rebellious against The involvement of labor staff in the failure of the presidential campaign of Kamala Harris, while the technological billionaire Elon Musk – qualified by Trump as “waste hunter” in his administration – called Starmer as “tyrannical”.

David Lammy, British Minister of Foreign Affairs, had already described Trump as “sociopath who hates women and sympathizes with neo-Nazis”, although Lammy said that the two men had repaired their relations during the Trump Tower dinner september.

Downing Street has not received any indication from the Trump team that the president would block Mandelson as a new UK ambassador, despite his former role as a European commissioner and his close ties to China. “There is no problem,” said a person informed of the file.

The Starmer team is also convinced that Trump will share the point of view of officials of the US State and Pentagon Department that the Chagos Islands Agreement is good for American security, even if it was criticized by US Secretary of State Marco Rubio.

Trump’s positive comments with regard to Starmer contrast with those he has made since his inauguration about the EU and Canada, which, according to the president, could be struck by punitive customs tariffs.

Jonathan Reynolds, British secretary to trade, has argued That Great Britain should not be struck by customs duties, since trade between the United Kingdom and the United States is mainly based on services and is generally balanced.

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