"With bear traps avoided and fireworks unlit, Keir Starmer will be delighted that his press conference with Donald Trump lent credence to his claim to be America's first partner in defence, trade and now technology. Trump, for his part, got the great pictures he wanted and was on his best low-wattage behaviour. He said he did not disagree with his host about much, save Starmer's plan to recognise a Palestinian state."
"But the hour the two men spent away from the cameras will be the true test of whether Starmer was able to use this second state visit, with all its pomp, to change any of the US president's thinking. Starmer whose technique in public is to alight on whatever small patch of common ground he can find with Trump will have used that precious private time to try to persuade him to think again about the trustworthiness of Vladimir Putin."
"On Gaza, judging by the press conference, Starmer failed. Trump nodded when he was told by an ITV reporter that he was the only man on the planet capable of stopping the demolition of Gaza City, to stop the starvation of Palestine and stop the killing of civilians. Trump replied that he could not forget 7 October, and said his demand was for Hamas to hand over all the hostages in one go."
Keir Starmer presented the UK as America's partner in defence, trade and technology during a state visit with Donald Trump. Trump agreed with many positions but opposed recognising a Palestinian state and suggested using military force to stop small boats crossing the Channel. The private hour between them was the key opportunity to influence Trump on the trustworthiness of Vladimir Putin and the judgment of Benjamin Netanyahu. On Gaza, Trump reiterated 7 October and demanded Hamas hand over all hostages at once. The Arab world supports a Gaza government excluding Hamas, and Trump privately backs a Kushner-Blair reconstruction plan that avoids Palestinian displacement.
Read at www.theguardian.com
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