Building Bridges: Prime Minister Starmer’s Dinner with Donald Trump
On September 26, Prime Minister Keir Starmer dined with former President Donald J. Trump at Trump Tower as part of a strategic British initiative aimed at fostering a relationship between a left-leaning leader and a right-wing political figure. As the evening drew to a close, Mr. Trump turned to Mr. Starmer and remarked, “We are friends,” a sentiment noted by those present and indicative of the complex dynamics at play in international politics.
The future of this burgeoning friendship remains uncertain, especially with Mr. Trump making a notable political comeback. In the months leading up to his resurgence and the subsequent confirmation of his victory, foreign leaders have again sought to cultivate ties with him. Diplomatic emissaries have been busy engaging with individuals within Mr. Trump’s inner circle and think tanks that are anticipated to play a pivotal role in shaping policies for a potential second Trump administration.
Different leaders are tailoring their approaches to appeal to Mr. Trump’s transactional style. For instance, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky is crafting specific pitches that resonate with this nature, while Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has dispatched teams of officials to the U.S. to connect with numerous Republican leaders, hoping to temper Mr. Trump’s more extreme inclinations regarding tariffs.
However, historical patterns suggest that many of these diplomatic overtures may ultimately prove ineffective. By the conclusion of his first term, Mr. Trump had developed an aversion to several leaders with whom he initially shared a cordial rapport. His protectionist trade policies and skepticism toward international alliances, combined with his unpredictable personality, often led to conflicts that overshadowed the efforts made to establish cordial relations.
As former Australian Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull remarked in a recent interview, “There were two critical misunderstandings about Trump. The first was the belief that he would behave differently in office compared to his campaign persona. The second was the assumption that the best strategy was to ingratiate oneself with him.”
Mr. Turnbull recounted a particularly tense phone call with Mr. Trump shortly after he took office in January 2017. The discussion revolved around an Obama-era agreement to accept 1,250 refugees, a deal Mr. Trump vehemently opposed. Despite the rocky start, Mr. Turnbull discovered avenues for collaboration with Mr. Trump, successfully persuading him to reconsider imposing tariffs on certain Australian exports.
This complex tapestry of international relations highlights the challenges and nuances of engaging with a leader like Mr. Trump, characterized by both opportunity and unpredictability.
