While Trump was pounding Iran with bombs, the UK led a secret operation against Russian spy subs in the Arctic. It is a sign that Starmer is focusing on where the threat to the alliance really lies, writes world affairs editor Sam Kiley
I’m torn on this one. Yes, it’s a bad look, particularly on the side of the Atlantic where words still have meaning. But Rutte isn’t stupid. He knows Europe still needs the Americans for a while until it’s finished scaling up its military capabilities, and Ukraine still needs their weapons and the Russia sanctions in place. So he might be playing the game of telling the demented grandpa “yes, you’re right”, just so he won’t throw a fit - and then wink to the other family members and do the right thing regardless.
Mark Rutte still went to the White House to kiss Trump’s ring, agreeing with Trump that some NATO members had let the US down.
I’m torn on this one. Yes, it’s a bad look, particularly on the side of the Atlantic where words still have meaning. But Rutte isn’t stupid. He knows Europe still needs the Americans for a while until it’s finished scaling up its military capabilities, and Ukraine still needs their weapons and the Russia sanctions in place. So he might be playing the game of telling the demented grandpa “yes, you’re right”, just so he won’t throw a fit - and then wink to the other family members and do the right thing regardless.