President Donald J. Trump will meet with British Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer at the White House on Thursday, marking the America First leader’s second visit by a foreign leader. Earlier this week, Trump and French President Emmanual Macron met to discuss a peace process to end the ongoing Russian invasion of Ukraine and President Trump’s plans for reciprocal tariffs.
It is expected that Trump’s conversation with Starmer will focus on similar subjects—the Ukraine peace process and Trump’s tariff plans. On Wednesday, The National Pulse reported that President Trump is eyeing a 25 percent tariff on the European Union (EU)—specifically targeted at automobiles and several other products. For decades, EU restrictions on importing American automobiles and steel have been a contentious issue, especially for manufacturers in the United States.
Another topic of discussion between the U.S. and British leaders will likely be the strategic Chagos Islands. Currently part of the British Indian Ocean Territory, they are in the process of being transferred by the British government to the island nation of Mauritius. However, British Foreign Secretary David Lammy confirmed earlier this week that President Donald Trump can veto the British government’s plans to hand over the islands.
There is mounting concern that Mauritius could subsequently lease one or more of the Chagos Islands to the People’s Republic of China—expanding the communist nation’s influence in the Indian Ocean and threatening U.S. and British interests. Such a move could also render a U.S. base on the Chagos island of Diego Garcia largely redundant, even if the transfer agreement between Britain and Mauritius includes an ongoing lease for the base.
Lastly, Prime Minister Starmer is expected to pledge that Britain will begin boosting its own domestic military spending—a policy President Trump has repeatedly pushed NATO alliance members to enact. It is believed Starmer will achieve this increase through reducing foreign aid.