Britain’s PM Seeks Strong Ties With Both The EU And Trump. That Could Be Tricky. | EUROtoday

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LONDON (AP) — Keir Starmer travels to Brussels on Monday, turning into the primary British prime minster to attend a European Union leaders’ assembly because the U.Okay. left the bloc 5 years in the past.

Starmer will head to dinner with EU leaders at Brussels’s neoclassical Egmont Palace strolling a diplomatic and financial tightrope. He is in search of to rebuild ties with the EU whereas avoiding tariffs from protectionist U.S. President Donald Trump.

Trump has slapped import taxes on the United States’ greatest buying and selling companions — Canada, Mexico and China — and says he may even impose tariffs on items from the 27-nation EU, with which the U.S. has a commerce deficit. His angle to Britain is extra ambiguous. Trump stated early Monday that “the U.K. is out of line but … I think that one can be worked out.”

Starmer stated Sunday that he had harassed to Trump that he wished “a strong trading relationship” with the U.S.

Trump’s commerce battles complicate Starmer’s purpose of a “reset” with the EU after years of bitterness over Brexit. It’s already difficult sufficient by Britain’s home politics.

Starmer needs to take away a number of the crimson tape and different obstacles to commerce with the bloc imposed by Brexit, however has dominated out the 2 issues that might take advantage of distinction — rejoining the bloc’s customs union or single market.

He additionally has resisted EU strain for a youth mobility deal that might let younger individuals from Britain and the EU stay and work within the different’s territory for a time.

Starmer’s center-left Labour Party authorities is cautious of riling populist politicians like Reform U.Okay. chief Nigel Farage, who’s poised to pounce on any perceived “betrayal” of Brexit.

Starmer is aiming for comparatively modest modifications comparable to a making it simpler for artists to tour and for professionals to have their {qualifications} acknowledged, and in search of nearer cooperation on regulation enforcement and safety.

Ahead of the assembly in Brussels, Starmer stated he would stress the significance of “keeping up the pressure” with sanctions on Russia to squeeze its “war machine” focusing on Ukraine.

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Britain and the EU say they are going to maintain a full leaders’ summit later this 12 months. Politicians within the bloc have welcomed the change of tone from Starmer’s euroskeptic Conservative predecessors, however need concrete proposals, and inevitably compromises, from the U.Okay.

Starmer can also be as a consequence of meet NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte in Brussels for talks centered on help for Ukraine. Trump’s return to workplace has raised questions over U.S. help for Kyiv — and for the trans-Atlantic navy alliance itself. Trump has stated that NATO international locations ought to spend at the very least 5% of their GDPs on protection, up from the present 2% goal. He additionally has not dominated out utilizing navy drive to grab management of Greenland, an autonomous territory of NATO member Denmark.

Britain spends 2.3% of GDP on protection and says it would improve it to 2.5%.

https://www.huffpost.com/entry/britain-trump-brexit_n_67a0b8b0e4b075eff519c9e6