Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer will meet US President Donald Trump on Monday in what is being described as his toughest diplomatic challenge yet: persuading Trump to take a different approach on the humanitarian crisis in Gaza. The meeting comes after Trump described Starmer as “a good man” but “slightly more liberal” than himself, offering Downing Street some reassurance ahead of the talks.
Starmer has worked to build a working relationship with Trump since his re-election, with some success. The two leaders agreed an economic deal that reduced some of Trump’s tariffs on cars, aluminium and steel, which the UK hopes is a first step towards closer trade ties. Starmer also helped encourage Trump to shift his position on Ukraine, with the US president now expressing unhappiness with Vladimir Putin after initially siding with him.
However, the Prime Minister now faces the difficult task of convincing Trump to press Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to revive peace talks and allow more humanitarian aid into Gaza. The White House does not currently regard Gaza as a priority, but Starmer sees Trump as the only international leader with influence over Netanyahu.
Starmer is under domestic pressure from his cabinet, Labour MPs and the public to take further action against Israel. Government advisers point to steps already taken, such as restoring funding to UNRWA, sanctioning far-right Israeli ministers, and restricting arms licences. The immediate goal is to persuade Trump to push for a full lifting of the blockade on aid, with mass starvation spreading across Gaza.
The longer-term aim is a ceasefire. Starmer will urge Trump to revive talks between Israel and Hamas after negotiations broke down last week. A 60-day pause in fighting is seen as a prerequisite for a more permanent end to violence. The window is narrow: the Israeli parliament is not sitting until October, giving Netanyahu cover to agree a deal.
Only after a ceasefire does Starmer believe the UK could follow France in formally recognising a Palestinian state, a move he has delayed to avoid overshadowing the Trump meeting. The outcome of Monday’s talks will test whether Starmer’s investment in the relationship with Trump has been worthwhile and how far he is prepared to push to help end the crisis.
