Donald Trump has expressed his admiration for Keir Starmer, the UK Prime Minister, and has been working with him since before Trump’s re-election. The two leaders have agreed on an economic deal that aims to reduce Trump’s tariffs on cars, aluminium, and steel, which the UK government hopes will be a first step towards a closer trading relationship. Starmer has also encouraged Trump to shift his position on Ukraine, after initially siding with Vladimir Putin and appearing to blame Volodymyr Zelenskyy for the invasion.
The prime minister now faces the toughest diplomatic task of trying to persuade Trump to take a different path on the humanitarian crisis in the Middle East. The White House does not consider Gaza as a priority, and Starmer is under pressure domestically to take further action against Israel. Government advisers are defensive, citing the UK’s actions to hold Israel accountable since Labour came to power.
Starmer will press Trump to revive ceasefire talks between Israel and Hamas, after the US and Israel withdrew their negotiation teams from Qatar last week. A 60-day break from fighting is a prerequisite for a more permanent cessation of violence. The window of opportunity is narrow, but Starmer knows Trump is the only international figure who can put pressure on him to do so.
Starmer believes the UK could follow France and formally recognize a Palestine state, but it is a matter of when, not if. David Lammy, the foreign secretary, will be at a UN conference this week to establish a pathway to formal recognition. Monday’s meeting with the US president will be a test of whether the energy put into maintaining a good relationship with Trump has been worth it and how far Starmer is prepared to push to bring an end to the catastrophe in Gaza.
