What a difference a day makes. On Thursday, the Prime Minister Keir Starmer went to Washington DC to meet with President Donald Trump. There, in the White House, Starmer had a jovial and good-spirited meeting and press conference with the new US President. The press hailed the Prime Minister’s visit as a triumph referring to it as a “love-in” and a “bromance”. It appeared to vindicate Starmer’s strategy of walking a delicate diplomatic tightrope between Europe and the new American administration.
But then came Friday. President Volodymyr Zelensky, Ukraine’s wartime leader, who is viewed by many to be a modern Churchill, sat in the same seat in the Oval Office as Starmer had done. However, Zelensky’s meeting with Trump could not have represented a greater contrast to that of Starmer’s a day earlier. There, Zelensky was subjected to berating and bullying from Trump and his Vice President JD Vance. Trump and Vance brought absolute shame on to the Office of the Presidency by goading and bullying Zelensky. All of which played into the hands of Vladimir Putin and his fascist attempt to conquer Ukraine.
Starmer’s dream day in the Oval Office has quickly turned into a living nightmare. Trump’s treatment of Zelensky reveals an uncomfortable truth. That in this increasingly divided and polarised world, Britain cannot continue to walk a diplomatic tightrope between Europe and Trump’s America. Britain will have to decide who it stands with. Do we stand with most other European democracies in defending what remains of the liberal rules-based order, or do we stand with Trump in forging a harsh world of realism, authoritarianism and post-truth politics?
In the EU, the likely next German Chancellor, Friedrich Merz, has called for greater European independence from America. There are even serious considerations about the creation of a common European army, especially as Trump’s America is no longer seen as a reliable NATO partner. Britain, along with the rest of Europe, must free itself from its dependency on America, especially on matters of defence. We Europeans must stand on our own two feet. We must embrace being the leaders of the free world, a position that Trump vacated on Friday when he sided with Putin against Zelensky.
There are significant risks for Britain in choosing to side with Trump over Europe. A cutthroat trade deal with Trump’s America that forced us to reduce our trading standards and economic regulations would be bad for our economy. It would also kill any hopes of getting a stronger trading relationship with the EU. Britain should not allow Trump to bully us into accepting an unfavourable trade deal through the threat of increased tariffs. The Trump Administration has also taken aim at Britain’s attempts to combat hate speech and discrimination. To reduce such protections would only embolden the far-right even further. In short, if we side with Trump, then Britain risks being reduced to a vassal state of Trump’s America.
However, it is far from certain that Starmer will take Britain closer to Europe. Take for example, the Home Secretary, Yvette Cooper, rebutting the idea of a youth mobility scheme with the EU. Ed Davey has rightly called for Britain to join a customs union with the EU. Yet, even this proposal, one that would bring clear economic benefits, has not been supported by Labour. The fact that Labour cannot support even the most reasonable and modest proposals for strengthening our relationship with Europe is a cause for concern.
Personally, I think the Liberal Democrats should go even further and unequivocally support the United Kingdom rejoining the European Single Market and the European Free Trade Association (EFTA). Perhaps even this soft Brexit option of EFTA and Single Market membership does not go far enough. The time may soon arise whereby the party and the country have to seriously consider reversing Brexit entirely.
Starmer needs to urgently wake-up from the dreamworld he is currently residing in. It is impossible to walk a tightrope between Europe and Trump. Britain needs to decide whether it sides with Europe or Trump’s America. In truth, this is no choice at all. Britain must stand with Europe.
Britain must have the courage to follow other countries like Germany and Canada in distancing themselves from the Trump Administration. Otherwise, we risk becoming a powerless pawn of America in the great game of contemporary geopolitics. In all likelihood, Britain will soon have to “take back control” from Trump’s America by moving much closer to our fellow European democracies. It will not be easy, and it will not happen overnight, but it needs to be done.
* Paul Hindley is a Liberal Democrat activist and a supporter of the Radical Association from Blackpool. He is the co-editor of When We Speak of Freedom: Radical Liberalism in an Age of Crisis, which was published earlier this year.
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18 Comments
Sorry to disagree Paul, but having (so far) lived under and experienced the regimes of fourteen different Prime Misters, if anything this Prime Minister is far from being in a dream world. He is emerging as a real-politic pragmatist moving to the right.
To give but one example, I think he is wrong to find his additional defence money from the Overseas Aid Budget.
Paul, you write: ‘Britain needs to decide whether it sides with Europe or Trump’s America. In truth, this is no choice at all. Britain must stand with Europe.’ Thank you.
Yesterday morning Tom Arms appropriately headed article ‘THE END’ refers to Donald Trump the Don. My comment ended: ‘Donald the Don confirms my view that Ed’s speech that the UK must build bridges with Europe and that this must be a top priority immediately.’
LibDems must stop thinking of losing a few Brexit votes. All of us must stand 100% with you and Europe NOW or else it will be THE END.
This former Brexiter, is fully U-turned and supports rejoing the EU, the creation of a EU Army.
Our armed forces are in terrible shape and therefore, I propose we go on a mass recruitment drive to our commonwealth countries and in large numbers, not the paltry 1350 a year we currently limit our intake to, and that means opening our arms to West Africans, instead of denigrating them as Kemi badenoch seems to do, ignoring her own roots.
We need to build on our own weapons manufacturing capabilities and drive the money out of US pockets and into the EU Coffers.
Unfortunately, we need higher taxes and borrowing in the medium term to fund everything, but thats the reality of this dangerous new world that we are living in when our former friends and partners in the US now stand shoulder to shoulder with Putin ( or pretty muchso anyway)
If the UK and the EU gets this right, I am sure any increased in borrowing can be offset by increased revenue by advancing and producing our own weapons, instead of filling the coffers of the USA constantly.
when you have the likes of Elon Musk retweating that America should leave the UN and Nato, and with the distint possibility that we could end up with Vance as President after trump, or some other far right thinking alternative.
The UK, Europe and the rest of the civilised world needs to come together urgently and fill the void left by the US and possibly Nato.
Its time Lidems start arguing for it vigourously, REJOIN the EU
@Matt. Did not the parable of the prodigal son say that there shall be more rejoicing over one sinner that repenteth than over nine and ninety just men?
Welcome to the ranks of EU supporters. Let’s hope that Starmer gets the message as well and soon.
No amount of wishful thinking will get Trump to be anything other than an enemy of freedom and a craven supporter of the dictator Putin. Europe is on its own and we can perhaps form alliances with Canada and others for a new world order. The sooner Starmer and his bunch of blue labourites recognise this and stop trying to pander to Trump the better. Appeasing bullies never works.
Henry Kissinger, echoing Lord Palmerston, is quoted as saying “America has no permanent friends or enemies, only interests.” The foreign policy of the Trump administration may abruptly change if and when they come to realise that current policies are not advancing the interests of the USA. However, I think it unlikely that any US administration will return to a policy of carrying the majority of the military burden for the defence of Europe.
The USA may be protected by an ocean from the travails of Europe, but the UK has a pretty wide moat in the English channel. As nuclear powers and permanent members of the UN security council both the UK and France have a special responsibility for the maintenance of International peace.
The USA is not the only North American member of Nato, so too is Canada and Greenland since 2023. Nato has a role with or without the participation of the USA.
The UK should be able to retain mutually benefical relations with the USA , regardless of who the current occupant of the White House might be, while at the same time maintaining a foreign policy closely aliigned with European democracies.
Small correction, Greenland did not ‘join’ NATO in 2023, it was already part of it by dint of being a self-governing part of the Kingdom of Denmark; indeed, it was part of the EC until 1985, having been taken into it against its people’s wishes in 1973, as it was then a county of Denmark, similar to Guadeloupe being a department of France. (By contrast, the Faroe Islands were able to stay out, having already gained self-government.)
What did occur in 2023 was that someone from Greenland was appointed as Denmark’s NATO envoy – https://www.courthousenews.com/greenland-gets-first-nato-envoy-amid-rising-tensions-in-arctic/
On the other hand, Finland only joined NATO that year, though this did not affect the status of the Åland Islands, which remain a demilitarised region under a 1921 international agreement, under which they gained self-government in return for Sweden recognising Finnish sovereignty of them – https://finlandabroad.fi/web/nato/frequently-asked-questions#Does%20membership%20change%20%C3%85land%E2%80%99s%20status%20as%20a%20demilitarised%20region?%C2%A0
While people on the Islands are exempt from military conscription, as they number barely 31,000, it’s no great loss to Finland, plus Sweden, the country they sought to join over a century ago, has joined NATO.
Ken,
do you think you would be able to explain that to President Trump in simple words.
@ Joe Bourke apropos advice to Ken……. and if he did would Trump understand it ?
As to Greenland, what would the rest of NATO do if Trump sent in troops to Greenland declaring a coup d’etat ? It was ‘gallant little Belgium’ in 1914. Will it be ‘gallant little Denmark’ in 2025 ?
“Britain, along with the rest of Europe, must free itself from its dependency on America, especially on matters of defence. ”
Totally agree.
“I think the Liberal Democrats should go even further and unequivocally support the United Kingdom rejoining the European Single Market and the European Free Trade Association (EFTA)”
Totally agree.
“I think [Trump] is wrong to find his additional defence money from the Overseas Aid Budget”
I totally agree with this too. It may well be time for a wealth tax.
Joseph, I’ll try.
Donald, Greenland in NATO ‘cos Denmark in NATO, like Alaska in NATO ‘cos America in NATO. Duh.
Tristan Ward, it IS the time for wealth taxes of some kind.
Are people aware what Trump is doing to his own people? He has taken over the Kennedy Center in Washington, a major national arts centre “vowing to be the one who decides what is allowed to be performed in the venue” according to Wikepedia.
It is government owned with some ex-0fficio government places on the board, but had fair processes for deciding who else is on the board. Yet Trump broke the rules last month, made himself chair, dismissed its President and most of the Board, replacing them with his cronies and appointed a former government person loyal to him as the interim Director. Almost immediately a national children’s musical going on tour, was cancelled.
I read about this shortly after listening to music by Shostakovich, who had to hide some of his work or produce them in a way that did not incur the wrath of Stalin.
I doubt Starmer has or had any illusions about Trump and co. Or any desire to stand with them, or is living in a dreamworld.
I think he was trying to keep the USA on side over Ukraine, because as things stand, Europe probably does need their support. We can’t acquire extra air power overnight.
Had Starmer gone over there and told Trump a bunch of home truths and stuck two fingers up, it might have been satisfying for him and us. But the consequences of doing so probably wouldn’t have been great for Ukraine, or Britain.
I agree with Cassie. It’s easy to call Starmer naive, but, if he can persuade Trump not to throw Ukraine to the wolves (and bears), the flattery will have rescued the West.
It’s worth reading:
https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2025/mar/03/europe-trump-ukraine
which points out that we might just be mis-reading Trump. No US President, including Biden, has offered “security guarantees” which risk starting a direct war with Russia. So what does Europe, and Ukraine, actually NEED from the US? What about an arms sales agreement, enabling Europe to buy Ukraine the air power and missile defence systems they will need from the US to enforce a peace settlement?
Drop the words “security guarantees”, which scare Trump. Offer Trump loadsamoney for weaponry instead. Forget the minerals deal scam, Trump will have already extorted enough from Europe. Not pretty. But better than capitulation to Putin, and better than endless war.
“Britain must choose between Europe and Trump’s America”
I think you mean between Ursula Von Leyen’s EU and Trump’s USA. It’s not a great choice.
The former seems to have difficulty deciding anything other than how they aren’t going to spend their money. The phrase breweries and something else springs to mind! LDV doesn’t need any additional comments from me on the latter.
So, for once, I agree with Starmer with the proviso that we should aim to be as independent as possible and don’t rely too much on either.
It is if course historically inaccurate to say that The U.S. is our oldest ally. Portugal gets that plaudit and, post entente cordiale France. The U.S. was dragged screaming and shouting into two world wars and, in both cases, because they were attacked themselves. It has only been since 1942 that there can be said to be a special relationship. Trumps latest act of freezing shipments of arms to Ukraine is like kicking sand in Starmer’s face. We must now seize the frozen Russian assets and buy the US arms which are in transit in Europe
I don’t blame Starmer for trying to have it both ways. The danger is that we will have a trade war with the USA and for that we will pay a very high price.
That said it seems very unlikely to work. Trump is by nature a bully and as president of the most powerful nation on earth – albeit is a declining one – he naturally wants the USA to be a bulley as well. It would be near impossible for the UK or any other country to be able to persuade him to do anything other than what his base support in the USA wants him to do. Which of course is nothing like what we would want him to do.
Sooner or later we will probably have to choose to be more Europe over the USA. However this is a choice with it’s own problems. The main problem being the rise of the far right in Europe. The elections in the USA were not unique to the USA. We have our populists here as well. In order to keep the populists out of government, unstable coalitions with parties that normally oppose each other are having to be formed. When they fail the populists get stronger. I think we are a long way off from rejoining the EU.