Fight tyranny? Trump would rather rest up in a castle

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London: The comforts of Windsor Castle appeared to soften Donald Trump when he ended his state visit to Britain and flew home. The president was treated so generously by King Charles and the royal family that his combative nature seemed to vanish, at least for a moment, when the time came to depart.

That was a big win for British Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer, who got to acclaim a series of big investment deals with Trump. The velvet cushions of the castle must have helped Trump sink into a more benign view of the world.

So the major event on the final day, a press conference with Starmer, was remarkable for everything it lacked.

US President Donald Trump (left) and British Prime Minister Keir Starmer during a news conference on Thursday.

There was no clash with a journalist. There was no argument with a fellow leader. There was no rant about a political opponent. In fact, there was no combat at all.

The British media, deprived of chaos and conflict, were left with little to report except that Starmer had managed a successful visit. Which he had. Starmer’s imperturbable manner was the perfect way to handle Trump.

But there was no action, either. The prime minister, helped by the King himself, wanted Trump to take a harder line against Russian President Vladimir Putin to try to get peace in Ukraine. On that front, the results looked meagre.

Trump, yet again, aired his disappointment with Putin. Yet again, he talked about some further options. But there was no sense of urgency, so there will be no alert in the Kremlin about trouble from the White House.

One day after the King gently suggested he should fight tyranny, Trump sounded like he would rather rest up in a castle.

Starmer sought to encourage Trump to use his power to help American allies. Including, tacitly, Australia. One day after King Charles used his state banquet address to describe the AUKUS submarine pact as a “vital” collaboration, Starmer highlighted it again.

“We have the deepest, most advanced defence relationship in the world,” the prime minister said as he stood alongside Trump.

“Our warriors train together and they fight together. Our industries build together – everything from fast jets to new AUKUS-class submarines.” Another signal to Trump to back AUKUS despite the sceptics in the Pentagon.

On Ukraine, the prime minister tried to remind the president that American power matters. “We have to put extra pressure on Putin,” he said. “And it’s only when the president has put pressure on Putin that he’s actually shown any inclination to move.”

That sounded like an admission of impotence for Europe when Britain and the European Union are hardly powerless. Their combined economy is at least 10 times the size of Russia’s. But they have tried economic sanctions, and personal sanctions against Putin’s cronies, but this is clearly not enough.

What else can be done? Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky wants NATO members to help defend the skies over Ukraine against Russian missiles and drones – something the allies have avoided for more than three years. Poland, however, is listening.

“Protection for our population – for example, from falling debris – would naturally be greater if we could combat drones and other flying objects beyond our national territory,” said Polish Foreign Minister Radoslaw Sikorski three days ago.

“If Ukraine were to ask us to shoot them down over its territory, that would be advantageous for us. If you ask me personally, we should consider it.”

This is a concrete example of a new course of action at a time when leaders are focused on another package of economic sanctions against Russia – due from the EU within days – and more spending on military hardware for Ukraine.

The “close the skies” request from Ukraine is loaded with risk, however, because it could bring NATO and Russian forces into direct conflict. It would not be on the agenda if Russia had not sent drones into Polish and Romanian airspace in recent weeks.

Trump had no answers at the end of his state visit. He said, yet again, that NATO allies should stop buying Russian oil. This is a fair request because Turkey, Hungary and Slovakia are still sending hard currency to Russia in exchange for oil. But it is no excuse for inaction.

Trump’s complaint is not a plan: it is merely a way to demand that others do something when he seems so unsure about what to do himself. On Ukraine, he reverts to a pattern of tough talk, indecision and missed deadlines.

The King raised a glass to Trump at Windsor Castle on Wednesday night, and he praised the president’s commitment to securing peace. The next day, however, Trump seemed to have no commitment at all.

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