Good morning. Keir Starmer is in Washington, where he will have his first meeting with President Trump since the inauguration. With Trump aligning more closely with Moscow than he did during his first administration and threatening to reduce Nato guarantees crucial for Western Europe’s security since World War II, the stakes could not be higher. Despite leading a party whose activists largely despise Trump and everything he represents, Starmer has built a warm relationship with the president and today may reveal how much he can sustain this relationship and shield the UK from the potential tariffs Trump is threatening against the EU. However, Starmer is one of three European leaders in Washington this week (Emmanuel Macron visited on Monday, Volodymyr Zelenskyy will be there tomorrow), and today’s meeting is also part of a broader narrative about the deterioration of the US/Europe alliance, which remains uncertain after four years of Trump’s presidency.
Starmer spoke to reporters on his flight to the US yesterday. Pippa Crerar, the Guardian’s political editor, was on the plane and reported that Starmer seeks Trump’s agreement that in the event of a peace settlement in Ukraine, the US should offer security guarantees to ensure its durability. The UK has already pledged to contribute troops to a European “tripwire” peacekeeping force to defend Ukraine and deter Russia. But European soldiers would require US air and logistical support to be effective, and Starmer is looking for assurances on this point.
The meeting’s backdrop is concerning. As Starmer flew across the Atlantic, Trump was hosting a televised cabinet meeting where, in a Soviet-style fashion, his ministers laughed at his jokes and congratulated each other on their supposed success. During this, Trump stated that he is not going to extend security guarantees beyond what he considers “a lot” and that Europe should take responsibility for this.
I’m not going to make security guarantees beyond very much. We’re going to have Europe do that.
Starmer is due to arrive at the White House shortly after 5pm UK time, and the press conference is set to start at 7pm. We will, of course, provide live coverage. The visit may mirror Theresa May’s in Trump’s first term when she achieved the first foreign leader meeting at the White House. However, after Trump’s poor treatment of May and his suggestion that Boris Johnson might make a better prime minister, the outcomes today remain uncertain.
Here is today’s agenda:
9.30am: The Home Office publishes its latest asylum, resettlement, and returns figures.
9.30am: Lisa Nandy, the culture secretary, will answer questions in the Commons.
After 10.30am: Lucy Powell, the leader of the Commons, will make a statement to MPs about next week’s parliamentary business.
11.30am: Downing Street holds a lobby briefing.
Around 5.15pm (UK time): Keir Starmer is due to arrive at the White House for his meeting with President Trump.
Around 7pm (UK time): Starmer and Trump are due to hold a press conference.
Additionally, Heidi Alexander, the transport secretary, is expected to approve the expansion of Gatwick Airport today.
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