00:00So, Tobias, you have just been mentioning all of that to me, and Keir Starmer right now, if we think about it, in the UK, is politically on the ropes for various different scandals that have been plaguing his government at the moment.
00:16And you said that other things should be brought up, Ukraine, with Donald Trump, bringing the two countries closer together and more aligned. But do you think Keir Starmer is the right prime minister to do this? And do you think he will do it? Or is this about flattering Donald Trump and making sure that we keep a good trade relationship with the US?
00:40Well, the last bit you said is absolutely critical. I mean, one of the reasons, let's be honest, why all this pomp and ceremony was put out is because we know that Donald Trump actually likes this.
00:50As state visitors go, this is on another level. But it does allow us, as we say, to get an opportunity in the quietness of Windsor Castle, away from the Oval Office, where we see so much discord take place, to actually spell out in very, very clear terms.
01:08And that's what Britain does well. Historically, we've had an impressive relationship with the United States. Of course, they're bigger, they're stronger and so on.
01:15But the convening power that we've had, the reach, the understanding of the world's issues, and we're able to articulate that in private to America has always been something that America has appreciated.
01:25And Trump's persistence in wanting to bring Putin in from the cold, to strike a deal with Moscow, to try and get a ceasefire with Russia, when we all know, all capital cities across Europe know that Putin cannot be trusted and you cannot appease the bully.
01:43That's what we need to persuade Donald Trump. And on Gaza, absolutely. What we're seeing in Israel's right to defend itself after those barbaric attacks by Hamas is Netanyahu taking Israel into a very, very dark place, using its superior military might, but without clarity as to what the strategy is.
02:03Where is the vision of where all this war takes us? And it's led to some horrific pictures coming out of Gaza.
02:11And if there's any individual that can persuade Netanyahu of what he's doing is wrong, then it is President Trump.
02:18And these are the important discussions that will take place not today, but at Chequers tomorrow.
Be the first to comment