The Brits are SO smart.

Also a good point

Metaphorical obvs.

I agree. The British diplomatic team has done its job, which has been made harder because it's Starmer and a Labour government needing to do business following past public statements about him.

Trump is all about personality. If Boris were still PM he'd have got 'the deal' by now because they genuinely get on.

Starmer's visit was good for UK.

Stroke his ego and get him onside, who cares, the end justifies the means.

I missed this somewhere along the line, but can someone tell me what Macron's contribution is/was, as I see his name mentioned in the thread as being on the same page as Starmer or something.

I don’t think even Trump is delusional enough to wish for two dead people is he??

We absolutely have to do all we can to advocate for Ukraine. We owe them big time. If we have to humble ourselves and flatter Trump then so be it.

Probably both. And maybe lots of other things too. Regardless it was absolutely the right thing to do. You catch far more flies with sugar than vinegar.

Badenoch troubles Starmer about as much as a fly would, have you seen her performances at PMQ’s? She’s not a serious politician and is absolutely no threat.
Unfortunately, given our history of empire building, future leaders have to clear up the mess made by their predecessors, Johnson tried repeatedly to ignore or circumvent international law and treaties and look how that turned out. There are many other things at play in terms of the Chagos Islands, it isn’t as straightforward as you’re trying to make it appear.

If Starmer can get in there, he can gently, slowly, persuade Trump of the importance of keeping Europe on side.

Or is it to save Starmer the embarrassment of large scale uncontrolled pro Palestine protests in London that will prove the point

The invitation to the state visit is very clever too - it forced Trump to publicly voice his love and support for the UK, but in reality this 'state visit' is unlikely to be what he imagines.
For a start, he's been invited to join the King in Scotland, which is perfectly reasonable since Trump has investments/golf clubs etc there. However that does mean it will avoid any large scale gold carriage/ streets lined with protesters in London. With any luck he'll be quickly shuffled along a road with pre-vetted cheering Scottish supporters (or actors!!) and then ensconced somewhere remote like Balmoral where Sophie and Edward will be rolled out to support the King.

Trump wishing Churchill and gets Starmer

Trump wishing Queen and gets Charles

Trump wishing Great Britain… and gets whatever hell we live in now, just another lower rung on the race to the bottom of the economic ladder

By giving Russia a chunk of Ukraine AND rare minerals?

It's not binding.

We're going ahead because Starmer is more riled up by Badenoch than taxpayers stumping the billions

Now you can see it's not binding wouldn't you rather your money go to foreign aid to stop volatility and help children or military?

I'm no Starmer fan, but I actually thought he did well, managing an unpredictable but powerful world leader.

It's diplomacy, not grovelling, and he (and King Charles) totally understood the brief here.

I'll try to find the link, but I read an article about how Starmer's team have been building the relationship with Trump since before either of them were even elected, based on the expectation that they both might be.

What's that expression, 'Keep your friends close, your enemies even closer'? There's not point pushing Trump away, that's even more dangerous - they need to work with him, even if that means giving the illusion of pandering to him.

I also read that the No.10 team have been prepping and role-playing out scenarios for this meeting for weeks (if not months). That will have included endless analysis of Trump, his style, his responses to certain things (e.g. royal pomp etc) and also coaching Starmer in body language and dealing with the infamous Trump power handshake. Starmer putting his hand on Trump's should is a countering power move.

At the end of the day it's all about the 'optics' and the headlines. Most people won't bother to watch the whole dull news footage. However the global news media have tended to report Starmer's visit as a success, the global headlines and chosen photos are good and Starmer has emerged as a strong European leader, alongside Macron.

I'm not a Starmer supporter, but I'm relieved by what I saw.

I can’t stand Trump either, and his intellectual capabilities are somewhat….limited, but of course he knew that the invitation was designed to flatter and persuade. He’s playing along because it suits him - he will love rubbing shoulders with royalty, but don’t think he won’t be aware of how smarmy the mention of the ‘very special invitation’ sounded! He’s not that stupid. He’s very good at business transactions, which is how he approaches life and politics. Everything he does is to gain advantage. He’ll be aggressive, if he’s being ‘attacked’ or if he thinks that will be a successful strategy, but he’ll also play along with being hugely patronised, if it suits his ultimate aim. He won’t believe it’s sincere, because he assumes everyone is as manipulative as he is, and in a lot of cases, he’s right, of course!

Well clearly Trump said "I don't care and I won't back you at the UN if you decide not to settle".

Why should Trump care how the UK settles its international law problems? Did some imagine he would extend his power when he gets his lease and all the military power he has to bear?

No. Team me.

And googling @bombastix

There's no binding effects.
'
The fact that the ICJ Opinion was merely advisory with no binding effects on the UK provided UK politicians with a fig-leaf of sorts,'

I wonder if this thread is reverse psychology. In other words, it's MsAmerica/The Americans who're actually so smart but the 'The Brits' are here enjoying the ego stroke of being described as "so smart" and talking about how much they've played Trump...and Putin and Elon and, and, and...

...before any real outcome.

I don’t much like Starmer. Or am unsure considering the shit show so far.

But I was impressed last night. They are very different people and he swallowed his pride and looked for common ground.

That shows guts imo. Welldone!

That's not what it looks like at all, though. It looks, bizarrely, as though Trump has shaped US power in his own image and one of the most powerful nations in the world is being run to flatter the ego of a vain, stupid toddler.

@bombastix how did Lammy say this? It doesn't have to go ahead.

'The Chagos Islands deal will not go forward without the support of US President Donald Trump, the foreign secretary has said.'

We were doing it to look good on the world stage. I would argue foreign aid delivers far more bang for buck for that with extra benefit of stopping epidemics grow or refugees flee.

Or for the harder nosed more military kit for us.

This

Interesting course of action. Can you think of why it was not pursued from 2019? I can

If the royal family can help manage this dangerous moron then thank fuck we have them.
I hope those who want them removed will reflect on the value of soft diplomacy in future.
Also thank fuck neither andrew or harry will be anywhere near it.