LONDON – Prime Minister Keir Starmer is en route to Washington following his announcement of a significant increase in the United Kingdom’s defense budget. This financial commitment aims to persuade U.S. President Donald Trump to maintain support for Ukraine amidst its conflict. While Starmer emphasizes the enduring trans-Atlantic “special relationship” fostered since World War II, he anticipates facing challenges in his reception due to recent shifts in U.S. foreign policy under Trump’s administration.
The ongoing situation in Ukraine has prompted Starmer’s visit to the White House, part of a broader European initiative to ensure that Ukraine has a say in ongoing negotiations with Moscow. This follows French President Emmanuel Macron’s recent trip to Washington, both efforts intended to secure U.S. backing in handling an aggressive Russian presence near Europe. On Thursday, Starmer is scheduled to meet with Trump to discuss these vital issues.
Starmer, echoing European efforts to strengthen defenses as Trump reshapes American foreign strategy, has also announced hosting an international leaders’ meeting in the U.K., focusing on Ukraine. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy is anticipated to participate in this Sunday gathering.
Highlighting the U.K.’s commitment, Starmer unveiled plans to increase military spending to 2.5% of the GDP by 2027, endeavoring to reach 3% by 2035. He describes it as the most substantial defense expenditure increment since the Cold War’s conclusion. Defense Secretary John Healey stated that Trump’s blunt challenges to European allies reinforce the necessity and significance of Britain’s pledge, as noted in an interview with the BBC.
Coinciding with this trip, the U.S. and Kyiv have finalized an economic agreement awarding the U.S. partial access to Ukraine’s valuable rare earth mineral reserves. The deal is seen as a strategic move by Kyiv to secure continued military assistance from the U.S., crucial for Ukraine’s stability.
As Trump prepared for his first Cabinet meeting, he confirmed Zelenskyy’s imminent White House visit to sign a significant economic agreement. Meanwhile, Starmer has proposed deploying British troops to Ukraine to support a ceasefire initiative led by the U.K. and France, contingent on American involvement for sustained peace. However, Trump has remained noncommittal on providing security guarantees, suggesting that European involvement should ensure stability.
Michael Clarke, a war studies expert at King’s College London, remarked on Starmer’s task to diplomatically engage Trump, presenting a realistic perspective on European security. Despite their contrasting personalities and perspectives, Starmer has sought to strategically engage with Trump, including attending a dinner at Trump Tower last September.
Furthermore, Starmer has appointed Peter Mandelson, a former Labour Party Cabinet minister with a reputation for political strategy, as the U.K.’s ambassador in Washington. Both Starmer and Mandelson aim to mitigate the effects of possible trade tariffs that Trump may impose on the European Union and others. Given the U.S. and U.K.’s substantial and balanced trade relations, they hope this partnership will shield Britain from such duties.
