As he prepares to depart Downing Street, Prime Minister Keir Starmer has revealed plans to maintain close ties with Donald Trump, the US President he has had a turbulent relationship with during his tenure. Their meeting at the NATO summit in Ankara highlighted the complexities of their strategic partnership, where they have managed to avoid criticism over defence spending despite tensions between them.
Starmer cited President Trump's closing remarks at the summit as evidence of their improved rapport, saying that Trump had thanked the UK for its "material contributions" and praised its commitment to NATO. However, this development comes after a series of public spats between the two leaders, with Mr Trump accusing the UK of being a "deindustrialised welfare zone" under Starmer's leadership.
The US President presented a chart at the summit showing that the UK ranked second in real-term defence spending over the last decade, but 12th when measured as a proportion of GDP. This has sparked debate about the effectiveness of the UK's defence strategy and whether it is sufficient to justify increased spending.
Starmer avoided engaging with Mr Trump's criticisms, choosing instead to focus on his own achievements in office. He highlighted the UK's economic progress under his leadership, including a stronger economy, public services, and defence capabilities. However, he also warned against increasing borrowing to fund defence spending, saying that it would be "unsustainable" and undermine the economy.
As Starmer prepares to hand over power to Andy Burnham, he has reiterated the importance of maintaining good relations with the US, citing their shared commitment to NATO as a key aspect of their partnership. While his relationship with Mr Trump has been strained at times, he remains committed to nurturing ties with the US and ensuring that the strategic partnership between the two nations continues.