DONALD Trump last night vowed to always stand with Britain’s troops — as he gave PM Sir Keir Starmer a boost by appearing to back his controversial Chagos deal.
The two biggest potential headaches faced by the PM were whether the President would agree to be a “backstop” for the Ukraine deal, and No 10’s plan to hand Chagos over to Mauritius.
ReutersPresident Trump greets Sir Keir Starmer as he arrives at the White House for the historic meeting[/caption]
AFPDuring the meeting, Trump vowed to always stand with Britain’s troops[/caption]
AFPThe US President speaks to the press during his meeting with the British PM[/caption]
Mr Trump stopped short of pledging US airpower to protect a European peacekeeping force for Ukraine.
But he insisted the US would come to Britain’s aid if needed. On the Chagos deal, he said he was “inclined to go along with” the plan.
The President has an effective veto on Sir Keir Starmer’s plan to cede the territory to Mauritius because of the joint US-UK military base on Diego Garcia.
Opponents of the agreement — which will see Britain pay billions of pounds to lease back the base — had hoped Mr Trump would block Downing Street.
But, asked about the deal in the Oval Office, Mr Trump said: “We’re going to have some discussions about that soon. I have a feeling it’s going to work out very well.
“I think we’ll be inclined to go along with your country. It’s early, we’ll have to be given the details.”
It marks a diplomatic coup for Sir Keir who has defended the giveaway deal despite enormous backlash in Britain.
The boost came as Trump also rowed back from his brutal attacks on Volodymyr Zelensky, claiming he could not remember calling the Ukrainian President a dictator.
In his high-stakes meeting at the White House, the PM is understood to have pressed Mr Trump hard to commit spy planes, satellite surveillance, and the threat of bombers and missiles should Russia attempt to “come again” after any ceasefire is negotiated.
Britain and France are not asking for US boots on the ground, The Sun understands, but they need Washington’s muscle to ensure Russian President Vladimir Putin does not use a peace deal to regroup and rearm.
Sitting next to Sir Keir in the Oval Office, Mr Trump played down the need for American forces to act as a military “backstop” but eventually admitted he would stand by British troops.
He said: “I’ve always cared about the British. They don’t need much help. They can take care of themselves. It sounds like it’s evasive, but it’s not evasive.”
AFPTrump stopped short of pledging US airpower to protect peacekeeping forces in Ukraine[/caption]
APPresident Trump welcomes Sir Keir Starmer[/caption]
He hailed the UK’s forces as “incredible soldiers” with an “incredible military” before adding: “But if they need help, I’ll always be with the British, okay? But they don’t need help.”
Earlier, when asked if US forces could be deployed as a backstop in Ukraine, the President dismissed the idea, suggesting it wouldn’t be necessary.
He said: “Well, there is a backstop. First, you have European countries, because they’re right there, we’re very far away, we have an ocean between us.
“But we want to make sure it works. So I don’t know whether you say backstop you mean a backstop psychologically, militarily or what.
“We are a backstop because we’ll be over there, we’ll be working in the country.
“That’s a great thing economically for them because . . . we’re going to have a lot of people over there . . . so I just don’t think you’re going to have a problem.”
And when asked about previously branding President Zelensky a dictator, Mr Trump responded: “Did I say that? I can’t believe I said that. Next question, please go ahead.”
He also insisted he was able to “get along with both” Zelensky and Putin.
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Starmer passed first Special Relationship test
Harry Cole in the Oval Office
AS love-ins go, that will take some beating – Sir Keir Starmer flew home a happy man last night.
Beautiful! Special! Golf! It was vintage Donald Trump.
Close to nauseating at some points, there was stroking of arms and stroking of one monster ego.
The President can be a temperamental and irritable menace at times, but he was in full gushing mode at the White House last night.
And the PM almost looked like he believed it when he said “it’s good to know that we have a true friend in the Oval Office.”
“I think you are trying to find a divide between us that does not exist,” Sir Keir insisted at the first whiff of awkward questions.
The stakes could not be higher, and with the help of a trump card in the shape of King Charles, his visit could barely have gone better.
His controversial Chagos deal was all but rubber stamped, and the pain of tariffs looks set to be avoided with new trade talks.
While Trump softened his tone on Ukraine, there is still a muddle lingering however on what protections the US really are willing to provide.
ReutersTrump holds a letter from King Charles – inviting him to a second state visit[/caption]
GettyThe two met in the Oval Office at the White House on Thursday[/caption] Published: [#item_custom_pubDate]
