Should King Charles's planned US visit go ahead in current circumstances?

[dwordle]

With King Charles visit to America on the horizon, I'm wondering why this state visit hasn't been cancelled.

Many will argue that it could thaw relations but I'm of the opinion that actually at this point in time I don't believe it's appropriate.

The Trump administration has shown no respect to our sovereignty, has openly abused our military, our prime minister and mocked our war veterans.

I do believe that our friends are in Europe and America right now isn't an reliable ally.

I absolutely think we should cancel the visit.
No doubt in my mind.

You honestly don't know what you are talking about...it was American policy to fund and arm the Ukraine....it wasn't even a NATO decision and certainly not European. Regardless the decision was largely the result Putin's annexation of Crimea.....

You can't blame Europe for Putin's decision to invade the Ukraine. Putin's decision to invade has actually strengthened the case for a European army.

I’m glad the visit is still going ahead. Recently, I’ve been feeling more Republican, but this visit is a reminder of how useful it is to have a head of state who is “above” politics.
Charles can visit Trump without explicitly endorsing his policies and this will help to shore up the relationship between our countries.
We have to do this because the relationship’s in tatters right now, but we need America as an ally because we literally cannot defend ourselves without them.
I also believe we should strengthen our ties to Europe - and these two things do not need to be mutually exclusive. The stronger our relationship with America the more we can help Europe by acting as a communication bridge between them.
Our country has close ties to America that transcend current politics and it is worth celebrating this fact despite our differences.

The 250 Anniversary is a big event for the American people and it's being overshadowed by Trump as is to some extent is the space mission. It would be a shame to take this away from the everyday American so perhaps Charles going will be appreciated by some of them, maybe not who knows. Will Trump appreciate Charles going? I doubt it in fact I expect him to insult Charles and the UK as he doesn't seem to have a filter. How Charles deals with it will be interesting

Absolutely this! I’m sure the King and Queen are under no illusions about him.

The EU was in advanced talks for Ukraine to join the EU. They signed an association agreement in 2014 as a precursor to going onto the accession list, following talks that had been going on since before the invasion of Crimea.

The USA gave Ukraine defensive aid after Putin invaded Crimea but that doesn't change the fact that the EU, with France talking long and hard about establishing an EU army, was courting Ukraine to join the other Baltic States with borders directly with Russia.

The disquiet was started with the mass accession of the other previous members of the USSR over far too short a time period, this isn't just about Ukraine.

It’s sad to read that some feel it’s better to take the more humiliating road and cow toe to the US vs simply arming back up and standing strong as an independent nation.
Military spending and the ability to defend your own land shouldn’t be outsourced.
There’s zero “need” for the US. This country has the skills and ability to build and buy arms from other suppliers.
Now while Russia is busy elsewhere is an ideal time to reorganize military dependence.
I’m team no, he’s needed at home.

And joining the EU would be what threat to Russia exactly, I'm struggling to see the connection. The EU is a trading block and not related to NATO membership.

In fact Putin hasn't opposed Ukraine membership in the up and coming peace talks...his opposition relates to NATO.

Regardless Putin is no longer in a negotiation position, it's losing and losing badly. Ukraine is slowly destroying Putin's ability to threaten anyone.

It's over for Putin and he knows it. Trapped in a endless war that he can't concede.

The EU is a trading block

And you accuse me of not knowing what I'm talking about!

That hasn't been true since the Maastricht treaty in 1992 when the EU explicitly became a political union instead of just an economic one.

Nato membership and closer ties to Western Europe tend to go hand in hand.

If you can't imagine why that, armed and butting right up to your borders might make the twitchy dictator of a notoriously aggressive state a bit nervous then you have a shortage of imagination.

Political in that it has a European parliament, the biggest democratic union in the world....founded on peace and prosperity. The idea that it's better to exchange goods rather than bombs.....the union that has seen peace throughout it's membership.

So you are peddling Russian propaganda that it's our fault that Russia invaded the Ukraine.

The country responsible for largely arming it's military before the war was America. And while I can see that as a provocative stance it was nothing to do with the EU.

Countries fund and sponsor military militias...those countries are Russia, America, Israel & Iran. The EU doesn't get involved in any espionage....

Trump has been so disrespectful to His Majesty's Armed Forces that I feel it will be very wrong of Charles III to go on this visit.
King Charles needs to remind Starmer that regardless of politics some very brave citizens put their lives on the line for our defence and deserve more respect.
Although I agree with Starmer stance on this not being our conflict, I wish he would show a bit more national pride and stop indulging Trump by supporting this visit.
Trump's behaviour is becoming increasingly unhinged.

Nowhere and at no time have I ever said that anyone is responsible for iRussia invading Ukraine than Putin.

But do you know what? In Brutish courts if a person assaults someone else they are held responsible and punished for it. But if they were provoked, then that provocation gets them get a lesser sentence.

If you can't see the provocation in what the EU did in expanding so far so fast, or even recognise the drive to a Federal Europe from Maastricht onward, and you then accuse me of excusing Putin, then it's completely pointless to continue any sort of discussion on this with you.

It is far more nuanced than you appear to understand.

Trump doesn't deserve the honour of a state visit. I think we should take the Spanish approach and ban American military aircraft from our air space and then see the response from America.

America is becoming increasingly isolated. It's time to increase the pressure.

Our place is now in Europe, Starmer should make the decision to rejoin next year including the Euro. No vote ...just get it done.

Still apologising for Russia....still has nothing to do with Europe. Putin never opposed European membership....he opposed NATO.

Funny despite all this the Ukraine is now more powerful than before the invasion. In fact it now has the largest most capable military in Europe.

I am not apologising for anyone. Your accusation is a weak response to a reasoned argument because you can't string together a better one.

Good for the king for going , bound to be an assassination attempt somewhere

What sort of democracy would we have if the PM unilaterally decided to rejoin the EU?

If the visit will enable him to see his grandchildren currently living in America, I feel he should go. Otherwise, he shouldn't.

One that puts the countries interest above politics. We should never have had a referendum in the first place.

The reality is we did have a referendum. The failure was the arrogance of David Cameron in not also planning for a leave vote. If the Labour Party tries to take us back into the EU without a mandate I hate to think who might win the next election.

Who is going to appoint the person who is going to make the decision what's in the county's best interest?

Countries with unelected or fraudulently elected leaders don't seem to do very well in that regard.

Referendum ignore the interests of the minority and In this case the minority was substantial amount of people. And included devolved governments which were wholly pro Europe and had zero say.

This is where people confuse populism with democracy and the role politicians play in working in the public interests not to the popular demands.

Leaving the EU has lost the average family 14,000 euro per year and seen a decline in freedom. The idea that our trade and regulations should be decided at the ballot box is ludicrous at best.

If Reform win at the next general then forget the union. Scotland, North Ireland and Wales will leave the union and little England will be lost.....

The idea that our trade and regulations should be decided at the ballot box is ludicrous at best.

They are always decided at the ballot box, because it is the elected government of the day who define and pass laws, trade deals, regulations etc.

The same applies if we rejoin the political EU as it is the elected representatives from across Europe who decide on trade and regulations etc.for the EU block.

I agree a Reform success at the next general election is the last thing we need which is why ignoring the referendum vote and trying to rejoin the political EU is a risk.

It will NOT thaw relations, and I wish he would cancel - but it's true that it's a special 250th anniversary occasion.

So horrible that this anniversary should fall during Trump's tenure.

You are correct it won't help relationships, Trump is now threatening NATO again. Although his powers to remove the US are limited but that won't stop him.

So is this the right time and the right message for our King to visit Trump.... absolutely not. It should be cancelled and we should deal with the fallout.

My view is let Trump leave, we will cope and the US will be back once the democrats get in

My fear now is Greenland and Cuba, I believe Greenland will come first. He will do it to hurt NATO. I do feel, however, that there is a growing resistance amongst military top brass to enact Trumps whims without congressional oversight. So we will have to wait and see