Sir Keir Starmer dismisses claims that President Trump is effectively setting UK government policy. The prime minister says that although he agrees with Trump on increases to defence spending, the policy was his decision based on his assessment. Starmer also comments on maintaining a relationship with both the US, the UK's "most important ally", and Europe. The PM says that talks this Thursday in Washington will focus on taking their relationship "from strength to strength", dismissing the countries' difference in voting at yesterday's UN talks.
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00:00Yes, it's true, President Trump thinks we should do more, and I agree with him.
00:04It chimes with my thinking on this.
00:08And by more, I mean more capability, I mean more coordination, and I need more spending.
00:14So this is very much my decision, based on my assessment of the circumstances that we
00:18face as a country.
00:20And it is taken first and foremost to ensure that the United Kingdom and its citizens are
00:25safe and secure.
00:27That is the first duty that I have as Prime Minister.
00:30It is my duty, my responsibility, and that is why I have taken this decision today.
00:34This is not about a choice between the US or Europe.
00:38That would be a historic mistake, in my view.
00:41This country has always been a key ally of the US, and a keen ally with our European
00:46partners.
00:47And it's important that we continue to do so.
00:51The US is our most important alliance on NATO, on our nuclear capabilities, on AUKUS,
00:59and so much more that we do together.
01:01We fought wars together.
01:02We have an incredible amount of trade between us, and that alliance matters to me, it matters
01:08to this country.
01:11But equally, we have to ensure that we have the right alliances with our European partners,
01:17so that together, in the way that this country has always done, and drawing together our
01:22European partners and the US.
01:24I will go to see President Trump.
01:27I've already met him in September of last year.
01:30I've had a number of conversations with him, in order to ensure we can take the relationship
01:36between our two countries from strength to strength, to make sure we can meet the challenges
01:41of the world as it now is, together.
01:44And for me, that is far more important than commenting on individual resolutions at the UN.