Speaking to the Westminster Hour on BBC Radio 4, Sir Peter said: “Over the years there have been a number of important moments, but I think this one, particularly because of what’s going on in Ukraine, and particularly because of the implications for broader European security, and that’s leaving aside the Middle East which they’ll obviously talk about as well, I think this probably is one of the most consequential meetings of a British prime minister and president that we have had since the Second World War.”.
It came as a former British ambassador to the US said the meeting between Sir Keir and Mr Trump is “one of the most consequential meetings of a British prime minister and president that we have had since the Second World War”.
Sir Keir’s meeting with Mr Trump will follow a meeting between the US president and Emmanuel Macron, just days after he accused Britain and France of having “done nothing” to end the war.
Sir Peter advised Sir Keir to show Mr Trump Europe is prepared to do more to protect its own borders and to “explain some of the realities of the sport of person he’s dealing with in Vladimir Putin”.
With the PM expected to highlight Labour’s plans to boost Britain’s defence budget from 2.3 per cent to 2.5 per cent of GDP, Mr Kerry highlighted the “tough choices” facing Sir Keir in terms of spending elsewhere.
