Keir Starmer has insisted that the UK-US special relationship will “prosper” under Donald Trump but the British prime minister’s Labour government has multiple reasons to fear the Republican’s presidential comeback.
Possible trade wars, Labour ministers’ unflattering comments about Trump, and any role for Starmer critic Elon Musk in Trump’s administration would make for a bumpy ride between the allies.
The UK’s “iron-clad” support for Ukraine in its war against Russia’s invasion and “unwavering commitment” to the NATO military alliance are also likely to become major bones of contention, experts said.
Starmer made a first move late on Wednesday, phoning Trump to offer his congratulations, telling reporters at a European summit in Budapest Thursday that the call was “very positive, very constructive”.
But Richard Whitman, an international relations professor at the University of Kent, said the centre-left government in London will be feeling “nervous” about Trump’s return to the White House.
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