Sir Keir Starmer has said he wants to strengthen the UK’s relationship with the United States as he pledged Britain would be involved in security arrangements for Ukraine. The Prime Minister is leaving to meet with President Donald Trump in Washington on Wednesday afternoon.
During Prime Minister’s Questions he was challenged on whether Britain could still rely on the US under Trump as well as the Government’s plans to cut foreign aid to boost the UK’s defence spending. Sir Keir said he will "resist" the suggestion we have "choose between the US and our European partners" after Trump branded Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky a “dictator” and appeared to cut him out of peace negotiations with Russian President Vladimir Putin.
Liberal Democrats leader Sir Ed Davey asked in the Commons: "It's already clear that under President Trump we won't be able to rely on the United States, sadly, to help ensure our security against Russian aggression, and that's why we strongly welcome the Prime Minister's decision to increase Britain's defence spending.
“But Europe must do far more to rearm in the face of Putin's threat, and the UK must lead on that. "That is why we back the idea of a new European rearmament bank, so we can finance a big increase in the manufacturing capacity without the need to cut Britain's vital soft power?".
The Prime Minister replied: "I'll resist his suggestion that we've got somehow to choose between the US and our European partners. I do not believe that to be the case, and I want to strengthen our already strong relationship with the US, because I think it's vital that we do so.
"I of course, want to work with our European allies on defence capability, of what more we need to do in relation to capability, coordination and funding, and in the longer term, there is a discussion going on amongst allies as to future funding.". The Prime Minister also reiterated his view that Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky is a "democratically elected leader", adding the UK "has successfully been a bridge between the US and Europe for many, many years".
Kyiv has agreed to a draft minerals deal which had been pushed for by the new US administration, and is expected to sign off the plan later on Wednesday. It no longer contains an initial demand from the US for $500billion in potential revenue from the rare minerals after Mr Zelensky claimed the share would have been akin to selling his nation.
Ukraine now appears satisfied the new agreement will lead to a continued flow of US military support in its war against Russia. It comes after Sir Keir announced the UK’s defence spending will rise to 2.5% of GDP by 2027 - an increase of £13.4billlion.
The cash will come from slashing funding for overseas aid from 0.5% of gross national income to 0.3% over the next two years. Cuts to foreign aid and development will make people less safe, Labour MP Diane Abbott told the Commons. During PMQs, the Mother of the House said: "The whole country stands behind the people of Ukraine. "But there is also a view that taking money from aid and development to spend on armaments and tanks makes people less safe, not more safe, because the desperation and the poverty that so often leads to warfare, is what aid and development money is supposed to counter.".
Sir Keir defended the move. "As I said yesterday, the overseas development is important,” he said. “I'm proud of what we've done. It wasn't a decision I took lightly or I wanted to take but it is important, at this moment, that we put the defence spending, the defence and security of our country and Europe, uppermost.”.
