Dear John,

In the week where Starmer became the first British Prime Minister since Brexit to join a summit of the EU27 leaders and Trump continued to take a wrecking ball to international diplomacy, here is your Weekend Wire…

Nice to see E-U

It has been a hectic week for Prime Minister Keir Starmer, who began with a quick trip on the Eurostar over to Brussels as the fabled UK-EU reset took its next step. Monday’s diplomatic antics began with a clear show of strength between Starmer and NATO chief Mark Rutte at a joint presser, as the PM reaffirmed Britain’s commitment to the military alliance.

However, as seems unavoidable at present, the spectre of Trump hovered ominously over the trip to the Belgium capital. Late on Sunday night, the 47th President of the United States berated the EU for being ‘out of line’, whilst also taking aim at Britain's trading relationship with the States  (albeit to a lesser extent). Cue the predictable fervour from some entertainment-channels-feigning-as-news-organisations, who criticised the PM for cosying up to Europe in the face of Trumpian tariffs. Let us not forget these are the same people who a couple of weeks ago were calling for the Donald to buy the UK, very patriotic…

Not to be deterred, Starmer sat down for a dinner with the EU 27 that evening and expressed his commitment to securing a defence agreement with the union, as well as working on infrastructure and energy collaboration. Britain’s Minister for EU Relations, Nick Thomas-Symonds then met with his EU counterpart (and friend of this newsletter) the Slovakian Maroš Šefčovič, they both seemed to have been very happy with the ‘productive’ and ‘meaningful’ nature of their talks.

For us passionate Europhiles there was even more exciting news as the date for the first UK-EU summit was announced. Pencil’s out, diaries at the ready, drumroll please…the 19th May.  The Prime Minister will be hosting European Council President Antonio Costa and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen at a summit which will undoubtedly focus on the upcoming review of the TCA Agreement.

We are sure there will be mentions of a youth-mobility scheme and closer UK-EU alignment too…

International Criminal Clown

USAID

I apologise to readers who may be sick of hearing about the man, but alas from now until his removal from office I think we will find it impossible to ignore Donald Trump.

The week began with DOGE (Department of Government Efficiency) effectively shutting down the USAID department which provides vital aid to some of the most vulnerable citizens of the world. In a twist of morbid irony, the push for USAID to cease operations (for now) was made by Elon Musk, the world’s richest man,. The budget for USAID for 2023 stood at $40 billion, a figure that pales in comparison to the $170 billion that Musk made in the month following the November Presidential election. 

Gaza-lago

Sadly, the descent of the Trump administration toward dystopia did not stop there. Later in the week, Trump appeared to call for the removal of all Palestinians for Gaza and the ownership of the land by America for redevelopment into a beachside resort. In yet another example of Trump’s disdain for the principle of national self-determination and what has been interpreted as support for ethnic cleansing, the President appeared to be talking more like a property mogul (old habits die hard), than as a diplomatic figure. 

In a horrifying threat to the people of Gaza, Trump said that he would send in American troops to the war torn region ‘if it's necessary’. Stating that America would take ‘a long-term ownership position’ on Gaza, it is becoming increasingly difficult to see Trump’s administration as anything other than neo-imperial.

ICC

Not content with rupturing international aid and threatening to forcibly remove a sovereign nation from their historical home land, Trump went to war with the International Criminal Court on Thursday evening. Signing an executive order which imposes economic and travel sanctions on the organisation, its officials and their families. It is another example of the complete disregard the President has for international law and the geopolitical norms (established largely by the USA) which have governed international relations since 1945.

Georgians aren't Putin up with the Kremlin

On Monday, Tbilisi saw one of the largest protests since the beginning of the civil unrest in response to the decision by the country's Government, controlled de facto by the multi-billionaire oligarch Bidzina Ivanishvili, to pause talks with the EU regarding Georgian ascension to the union. 

The protests were met with characteristic repression and violence from the Moscow supported government, who have driven Georgia away from the West and back towards Russia’s sphere of influence. However, months on from the first protests, the resilience of Georgia’s population shows no signs of breaking. Even in the face of levels of political violence and repression that have not been seen in the country since the fall of the Soviet Union, the EU flag still flies most nights in Tbilisi's ‘Freedom Square’.

Today in 1836, the first London railway train ran from Spa Road to Deptford, starting the beginning of centuries of commuting, weary faced employees and standing packed like sardines. There were originally fears that the 16 mph speeds would break passengers' necks, maybe this is why  we have taken so long to build HS2!

I hope you have a wonderful weekend, and I look forward to speaking with you this time next week,

Joshua Edwicker
Best for Britain