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UK hopes to be a bridge between Europe and Trump’s US, minister says (www.theguardian.com)

submitted 6 days ago by Emperor@feddit.uk to c/uk_politics@feddit.uk

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The UK hopes to act as a bridge between Europe and Donald Trump’s US, the business secretary, Jonathan Reynolds, has said before what could be a crucial week of diplomacy in deciding Ukraine’s future.

With Keir Starmer expected to travel to Paris on Monday for an emergency summit of European leaders, in advance of a possible trip to Washington the following week, Reynolds said the UK had still not given up on persuading the US to allow Ukraine to join Nato.

The US had a reasonable point in asking European nations to contribute more in defence spending towards the protection of Europe, Reynolds told BBC One’s Sunday with Laura Kuenssberg.

“So that is how Europe has to respond,” he said. “I believe we in the UK can play a part, as that bridge between the US and Europe as we adjust to this new era – and it certainly is a new era.

“But I think it would be wrong to portray this as some sort of fundamental breach. There is still a great deal of common ground between the US and its European allies. We must play our part in strengthening that.”

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[–] towerful@programming.dev 13 points 6 days ago (4 children)

Sounds like:
eat a shit sandwich from the US.
eat a shit sandwich from the EU.

Unless - somehow - the perks from both are enough to outweigh the consequences from both. Which I doubt

[–] futatorius@lemm.ee 1 points 5 days ago (3 children)

With Trump in charge in the US, if you think the US and the EU are morally equivalent, I hope those responsible for you are providing you with the supervised care that you need.

[–] towerful@programming.dev 2 points 5 days ago

No, I don't.
And I didn't say that anywhere in my comment.

Morals don't have much to do with trade negotiations.

Trump is going to strong arm the UK, and the UK will have to make concessions. Because the UK wants to put themselves in the middle. Shit sandwich number 1.

The EU is going to strong arm the UK, and the UK will have to make concessions. Because the UK wants to put themselves in the middle. Shit sandwich number 2.

The UK government is negotiating with both parties from a weaker position. And the EU has shown that they won't give the UK concessions during Brexit negotiations.
If the UK get a trade deal with either party, the other party is going to have significantly more leverage. And they will know it.
Which means neither the EU nor the US are going to make any meaningful concessions. And whoever waits the longest gets the most leverage.
Hence, the UK has to make the significant concessions (required to be in the middle) work for itself.
And I bet the concessions are gonna go against what the UK people want.

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